RAILWAY PETITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1272, 30 October 1911, Page 7

RAILWAY PETITIONS.

DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT. Tho Railways Committee of the House of Representatives eonclwdcd its inquiry into tho grievances of the first division of tiie railway service on I riday, and its report was presented to Parliament by the Chairman of tho Committee (Mr. T. Ilogan) at IX) on Snturday morning. The committee recommends "Tliiit in the railway service which have been reduced in during t.he few years :w c et out in Clause II of th<« petition should be restored where the traffic is maintained. "That in connection with promotions, Regulation 10 be carried out, and that ; when an officer is not recommended for j promotion he Ix* immediately supplied with a copy of the report, giving reasous for his not. being so recommended. "That readjustment of classification is dc>irai)te, and that tho (loveniuvont bo recommended to go into tho whole question of regrading the first division with a view to more adequately remunerating officers generally, and striking - out tho ninth grade, and fixing a maximum of r£22o for officers who iasl to qualify for promotion. "That the railway regulations dealing with leave of alienee be amended so as to bring them into conformity with the regulations of other branches of tho public service. "That tho staffing of stations bo reviewed with a view to reducing excessive

hours where such exist. "Thn't K-oifulolioii 17 bo altered so Hint Hireo days bo allowed at commencement of journey and ten days after arrival at destination in cof-es where officers arc transferred to meet the exigencies of the Department. "That tho evidence placed before the commitlee tlacs not ju-iifv it in recommendiiiff that the 31ini>ler's power of veto on Appeal Board decisions bo abolished." Upon tho petition of tho Amalgamated Society of Railway .Servant?, fho commitlee reported"Having met the representatives of tho A.S.R.S. in conference and heard representation?! from them, wo recommend that the Government set up a board or commission to inquire into tho petition of V-ho second division of tho railway service, with a view to recommending the bsst methods of removing any grievances or anomalies that may exist." Mr. Hcrdman asked the Primo Minister if lie intended to give liio House an opportunity of discussing this question. It was being asked to agree to the recomI inendation of tho Railways Committee I though members had not the remotest idea of what was in tho evidence which the commitloe Ind considered before arriving at its decision. Sir Joseph Ward: When do you suggest thai; wo should discuss it? Mr. Hordmnn: "Could wo not sit to-mor-row morning? Hero wo have a petition from a imgo branch .of the public service and wo are a.'ked to discuss the matter at twenty minutes to three in tho morning, before we have had an opportunity of reading the evidence. This, as my lion, friend the member for Tail ran go. s ugges ts>, is I\irliam en tn ry coll t rol.'' Finally, Mr. Ik-rdmr.ii suggested that t;he Prime Minister should give the House an opportunity at ten or eleven o'clock on the morrow of expressing an opinion on the existing flat? of affairs in tho Railway Department. It was only right that this should he done in the interests of the men and of the peoplo who wcro proprietors of this institution. Mr/Jennings: Adjourn it until Monday! Mr. llerdmaa: It is of no use being frivolous about it. It was absurd that tiio Houso should be asked to adopt tho report of the commitlee which had been mestin;? for weeks and weeks in this way. Mr. M'Laren. as tiie member who pre-

scnted 1 ho petition, Mated that the officers of the Amalgamaled Society concurred in tho view Hi,it it was impossible, at this s late stage in tho session, to consider tho matters raised in the petition. They con- 1 sidered that some sort" of commission should bo appointed to consider the ' matter during the recrss. It amounted to j giving the men in tho service a fair hearing. i Mr. Herdman said that if the commission was to Ik? constituted by some i export from outside New Zealand, ho wiiukl not oll'er any objection. : Mr. Mas-soy asked tho Minister for , Railways whether ho proposed to give effect to' the recommendation of tho Railways Committee in this matter. Mr. Millar replied that that was a question for Cabinet, and the matter had not readied Cabinet yet. The Prime Minister saiil Hint Mr. Herdman wanted to put tho railway servico under an autocrat', under iulo man. Now he, suggesied that one man should bo brought in to see what should bo done with the railway service. Ho supposed that this man would !» tho future autocrat. Tho Primo Minister declared indignantly that Mr. Herdman had asked him to provide an opportunity for discussing this report, though he kuew that this was impossible. Mr. Herdman: You are very unreasonable to say that! This is Parliamentary control that wo are having now. The Primo Minister retorted that the lion, gentleman held extraordinary views, - but that lie would not get many pooplo lo share them, lie was liko a peevish bov. Mr. Ilerdman: You aro like a petulant child. After some further discussion the motion that the reports should bo referred to tho Government was adopted on tho voices. OFFICERS' INSTITUTE PLEASED. tl)y TelccraDh — l'resa Association.) Christchurch, October 20. Mr. liennohy, of the New Zealand Hailway Officers'" Institute, telegraphed on Saturday as follows to Mr. Witty, M.P., a member of the Railways Committee of the House, regarding tho committee's report on the institute's petition"Very pleased with report; evident matter given careful consideration. Many thanks and best wishes." >