HUTT RAILWAY WORKSHOPS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 267, 7 August 1929, Page 9

HUTT RAILWAY WORKSHOPS

4 AVOIDING OVERTIME The reason why the Hutt railway workshops are working overtime was given by the Minister of Railways (Hon. W. B. Taverner) in the House of Represent tatives yesterday in reply to Mr. R. Sem-' pie (Wellington East), who asked the Minister whether he would take steps to prevent that extra time being worked so as to provide a fair distribution of work among the men who were at present idle locally. “It is true that a certain amount of overtime is being worked at the Hutt workshops at present,” replied the Minister. "The reason is that it is necessary to put through the shops an abnormal number of heavy repairs to engines on account of the loss in output suffered during the earlier part of the year by reason of the change over into the new workshops. In order to meet next summer’s requirements the output of the shops is to be increased by 33 per cent, for the next three months at least. It is recognised that overtime is undesirable, but there is a limit to the number of men that can be additionally employed on engines and machinery. Additional staff has, however, been taken on over and above the regular allocated staff since April 1 at the Hutt shops to the extent of 110 tradesmen and 67 unskilled men. The policy of the Department is to avoid overtime as far as possible. In order to further assist the position at Hutt arrangements have been completed to work an additional shift, this also being in conformity with the Departmental policy to employ additional help rather than work overtime.”