RAILWAY SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 39, 16 February 1914, Page 3

RAILWAY SERVICE

— •«»- — ITS DEVELOPMENT SPEECH BY SIR JOSEPH WARD NEW GENERAL MANAGER'S PROPOSALS. About one hundred members of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants attended a banquet on Saturday night to celebrate the official opening of the society's new offices in Aitken-street. Mr. W. T. Wiison, president of the society, was in the chair, and among ! the guests present were Sir Joseph Ward, Mr, E. H. Hiley (General Man- j ager), Mr. T. Ronayne (ex-General Man- j ager), Mr. R. W. M'Villy (Chief Clerk), Mr. 11. Buxton (Chief Traffic Manager), ! Mr. Burnett (Chief Engineer), and Mr. 11. Jackson (Chief Mechanical Engineer). In proposing the toast of "Parliament," the Chairman expressed regret at the unavoidable absence of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Railways. In this connection, he stated that the relations between the society and the Minister of Railways were of an extremely cordial nature. He felt justified in extending a cordial welcome to Sir Joseph Ward, who had put himself to considerable inconvenience in arranging to be present that evening. Sir Joseph Ward was almost inseparable from the railways. (Applause.) They had had to meet him on several occasions, and as Minister for Railways he always did his best to assist them. He (Sir Joseph) had been condemned for some things he had not done. That would happen to anyone, but owing to Sir Joseph's long connection with the Railway Service they believed he took a keener interest in the Railways than in any other Department. (Applause.) Of Sir Joseph Ward they asked full civil and political rights. If that was granted the ' country would be surprised at the number of able politicians they had in New Zealand. (Laughter and applause.) The Service was not satisfied with the present condition of affairs. They saw no reason why, because a man was in the service of the railways, he should not take an active part in politics. They would, he added, never forget the part that Sir Joseph Ward had played in bringing down the superannuation scheme. (Applause.) The scheme was not perfect, and several amendments were required, but he believed that had not Sir Joseph Ward been head of the Government at that time the measure would not have been put on to the Statute-book. (Applause.) He expressed satisfaction at the fact that members and Ministers are always approachable by those who have matters to bring before them, and he hoped that those pleasant relations would long continue. (Hear, hear.) SPEECH BY SIR JOSEPH WARD. Sir Joseph Ward, whose name was coupled with the toast, was received with applause on rising to reply. This, he said, Was not the occasion to speak on party politics, but he did feel that the country owed a great debt of obligation jto the service which numbered more people than General Buller had under his command when he was defending Natal against the Boers. There were about 21,000 members in the service, and in a few years he ventured to say that it would number 50,000. They were passing through remarkable changes in connection with railways, and in this connection he paid a high tribute to the services rendered by the late General Manager, Mr. T. Roynane. Alongside him was the new General ' Manager, Mr. Hiley, to whom he wished every success, and he assured him that he had the good-will of the people, who hoped that he would fulfil his onerous duties with satisfaction to the country and credit to himself. (Applause.) He remarked that an excellent scheme of superannuation had been provided for the railway employees, and he added that any member of the service who had the ability could aspire to and gain the highest positions in the service. (Hear, hear.) At present the difficulties in connection with the railways were much more easily got over than in the earliel 1 days of the service. There had been remarkable changes, and if the general public realised them more fully they would be less inclined to find fault. He recalled the condition of affairs that existed before the railways came under direct State control on Ist January, 1895, 'when the Commissioners retired from office, and he sketched the progress of affairs that had taken place since then. The first thing done was to give both divisions the freedom 'of coming before the authorities and putting before the Government and Parliament the grievances under which they thought they laboured, The first step was in regard to classification, and gradually it became recognised that the service should, through its representatives, be given full opportunity of placing its views before those who were responsible for its management. At that time, for instance, apprentices only got lOd a day, and cleaners got 2s 6d a day. How many would be content with that scale of pay now? Labourers got 6s a day, and shunters and storemen Vs^od a day. And so on. The whole condition of things had greatly improved, but it was not until 1901 that the increases were made statutory, and it was not until 1905 that the minimum scale of pay was raised to 8s a day and the working hours were reduced. In 1909 the piovision was made that married men should in any grade receive a minimum of £130 per annum, and in 1912 that was raised to £140 a year. Further, the condition of the rolling stock had been greatly improved, and ho could remember the fight he had in persuading Cabinet to agree to raising a loan for that purpose. In 1912 £3,347,858 was spent in improvements and additions to rolling stock and workshops, and £1,466,688 was spent on safety appliances. In such a young country as A'ew Zealand that was a large expenditure^ and he contended that the general public did not fully appreciate the imIDortance of such expenditure. He quoted figures to show the growth of the railway system, and he remarked that between 1900 and 1912 the total concessions to railway employees amounted to £676,000, and the concessions to the public in reductions of freight and adjustments and additional trains amounted to a little over £2,000,000. He had been in America and Canada and other countiics, and he declared that none of them j had railway trucks and i oiling stock so well looked after as those in New Zealand. In conclusion, he expressed the hope that the railway society would go on doing good work for the railway as it had in the past. "Be reasonable in your demands," lio advised. " When you ask for a thing that you feel you ought to get, stick to it until you get it. If you ask for the impossible, always take into consideration the fact that tlio General Manager has a. kindly-disposed Minister lit the back of him, and behind him is the Ministei of Finance, whu is disposed to keep a very tight hold on tho money bags, and between the two the Minister stands a very {rood chance of being squeezed out. (Applause.J THE RAILWAYS. The General fciecretary (Mr. M. J. Mack) proposed the Uiant of " Rail* ways/ and in doing go said t&e r«l»-

tions between the A.S.R.S. and the management were most cordial. He kuevv that the management had a \ery difficult task to carry out, but he did think the public under-estimated the im portaut part that the railways played jn the development of the country. He expressed tho belief that the railway service would remain loyal to the management, and he paid a tribute to Sir j Joseph Ward for having fixed a minimum of 9s a day for married men in the service. ' (Applause.) He looked forward to the time, he said, when farm horses and dairy stock would be carried free instead of racehorses, and that fatheis of families would leceive concessions instead of concert companies. Also he urged that some of the increased value jmt on land by reason of railway construction should go to the State. (Applause.) GENERAL MANAGER'S REPLY. _ Mr. E. H. Hiley, General Manager, on rising to reply, was received with loud applause. As to the future, he said, no one could foretell it — (laughter) — but with railway business growing as it is, alterations were necessary. He deprecated the use of the word " reform " in this connection. It almost implied a slur on the railway builders of the past, and he considered such a slur was unjustified. His predecessors had had to "nurse a baby," and as the system increased in volume alterations and improvements were justifiable now which were not previously " within the sphere of practical politics." He hoped the A.S.R.S. would assist in bringing about such alterations as were necessary, and to make suggestions for any improve- ; ments which the public might reasonably expect. He was only too happy to get suggestions from railway men. In a few clays' time he intended to circularise the railway men, and institute a "suggestion board," &o that any man who had any suggestion to make on any detail of working should send it in. He would personally see any suggestion that was sent in. (Applause.) any that he thought worth while wonln be sent to a board, aiid. he also intended, to institute a committee to which any employee could send along a patent regarding railway work. Tho Department would, use any patent accepted without royalty, but otherwise the patentee could get what he might out of it. He hoped that such a system would have a stimulating effect on the era.jrioyees and. help to bring the Service into an up-to-date position. He also proposed to give some monetary reward for suggestions which were considered worth while, whether they were adopted, or not. (Hear, hear.) He considered that the maintenance of the permanent way and rolling stock in New Zealand wa* beyond_ reproach. (Applause.) Ho believed in sane unionism, lie added, and co far the A.S.R.S. had shown that it ran on sane lines, especially during the recent etrike, when they proved that they were prepared to stick to their pledges against all temptations. Th» people of New Zealand would not forget it in a hurry. He hoped that the society would see tha,t it only put forward reasonable proposals. If it establißb<>d a reputation of that sort it might occasionally squeeze a point through, but they mum always remember that tho Department was tied by finance, and it was, therefore, wise- to only put forward proposals which were reasonable. If that was done they would always receive from him a sympathetic hearing. (Applause.) Mr. T. Ronayne (ex-General Manager), in responding to the toast, said that none of the rolling stock for the New Zealand railways is being imported} all is being manufactured locally," and it as all of excellent quality. Mr. R. W. M'Villy (Chief Clerk) also replied, and took the opportunity of congratulating the society on at last having a building of its own. (Ap. plause.) Tho toast of the "A.S.R.S." was proposed by Mr. T. > Ronayne, who remarked that as a rate the society had put forward reasonable proposals. He hoped that that policy would bo continued. As General Manager, he had found the society of very great assistance, and he thought that the tariff should be adjusted so as to give full justice to the public and the railway servants while still enabling th-e railways to pay a reasonable rate of interest. (Applause.) Mee-srs. Thomas, Watson, and Kearns responded. Other toasts followed, an excellent programme oi mueio and song wae gone through, • and a very enjoyable evening was spent.