THE BONUS CUT

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 24, 28 July 1922, Page 11

THE BONUS CUT

ALTERNATIVE AGREEMENT WITH E.F.O.A.

A few days ago Mr. Poland, M.P., asked the Minister of Railways a 'ques-, tion in the House as to whether .'the second cut in salaries would apply to members of both the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants and the Enginedrivers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association, as it had, been stated that the cut would not apply to locomotive men. Mr. Guthrie replied that, exactly the same cut would be made in both cases, but jn different ways. * Since that time - numejoua inqWies have, been received on similar lines, ,and when seen in connection with the matter torday, Mr. Guthrie stated,that.an agree.ment had been entered into between the E.F.C.A. and. the Government in terms of sub-section (2) of section 2 of the Public Expenditure ' Adjustment / Act, 1921-22. That sub-section provides that if. the Minister of Finance is satisfied that the terms of any agreement or arrangement' entered into between the General Manager of Railways, on behalf of the Minister of Railways, and any society or association of' employees of tfie second division of the Government Railways Department would effect a reduction of expenditure in respect qf the salaries or wages of those employees not ■ less than the reduction that would 'be effected therein by the Act, he may by order in ' writing exclude the members of • such society or , association from tne operation of the1 Act. '..'■"' The Minister stated that the provisions of the sub-section referred to had been complied-withi'w every respect, and that the necessary order in writing had been given by the Minister of Finance excludr ing the members of the E.F.C.A. from the operation of the Act, as "the reduc r tion of expenditure in respect of salr aries or wages of those employees under the agreement is not less than thereducjtion that would have been effect*! by (applying the cut in the ordinary way. '