THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS' FIGURES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1153, 14 June 1911, Page 5

THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS' FIGURES.

Sir,—The Hon. Mr. Millar is really amusing, and • besides being an expert examiner of electrical engineers, he is apparently a first-class actuarial juggler. He stated to a recent Wairarapa deputation, that he paid his stationmasters £230, and had also to pay interest on t'heir houses! Also, that only two stations (Pahiatua and Masterton) produced a passenger revenue of .£SOO.

Are you aware, Mr. Editor, that very fvw stationmasters receive ii'23o a year, ar.-.l that (hey have to pay rent (which iac..'e than pays interest), and further, that many of them work anything from 11 to 11 hours a day and have their holidays "docked" if they go off sick? The following •is a statement taken from Jlr. Miliars' own report to Parliament in 1910, showing the passenger revenue for the year (odd shillings and pence omitted)

Feat'noiston 3,458 Greytovrn I,l'G Carterton 2,012 Masterton 13,071 Mauriceville ' 811 Eketahuna 2.550 Pahiatua 3,007 Mangatainoka The salaries paid to tho various stationmasters arc as follow:— Cross Creek, .£2OO per annum, less honse rent, .£2O; I'eatherston, ,£255, less <£25; Greytown, ,£2OO, less .£2O; Carterton, i£22o, less .£2O; Masterton, .C3OO, less .£3O; Mauriceville, ,£2OO, less «C2O; Eketahuna, JC32O, less ,£2O; Pahiatua, «£255, less .£3O; Mangatainoka, ,£2OO, less .£2O. These are maximum salaries, ar.d very often stations are worked by lesser paid officers. ■ , r , r ,„ , Why does not the Hon. Mr. Millar make a personal inquiry into railway matters, instead of liistening and believing all that is t'old to him by the "Jack-m-Office" who is patiently waiting, and cunningly working, for a high position in tho railway service? . It is time the public knew who is at tlie wheel!—l am, etc., FAIKPLAY. Wellington, June 8, 1911.