PROMOTION BARRIER

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 146, 21 June 1924, Page 8

PROMOTION BARRIER

IN RAILWAY SERVICE

BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND

DIVISIONS

A.S.R.S. SEEKS ITS REMOVAL.

A proposal which, if put into effect, would practically mean revolutionising the present system of promotion in the railway service, was put forward by the A.S.R.S., before the Railway Inquiry Board this morning, in a claim that the barrier existing between the first and second division of the service should be removed.

In support of the demand, Mr. M. Connelly, advocate for the society, made a comparison between the qualifications of the employees in the two divisions, and expressed the opinion that taking things all round the practical man was better than the theoretical man. It stood to' reason, he said, that the man who went through the mill made a better administrator than the man who had been trained only on theory, but under existing conditions it was difficult for the practical man in the second division to get into the first division, and rise to an administrative position. The maintenance and traffic men particularly were not given the opportunity to climb to the managerial positions. He submitted that that might be one of the reasons why the service was not paying as well to-day as it might do. It was doubtful, too. whether the present system inspired the second division men with the confidence in the management which was necessary for complete co-operation. If the men were given more opportunity to rise they would feel greater confidence.

His Honour Mr.. Justice Frazev (chairman) remarked that it did not follow that every man had the ability for first division work.

THE TELEGRAPHIC TEST.

Proceeding, Mr. Connelly submitted that the practical man in most cases made a better organiser than the technical or theoretical man. In other countries no barrier stood in the way of the promotion of the man in the lower branches of the service., "The sooner the Department came down to earth and cast this barrier aside," he declared, "the sooner will we get better results, in the service. If the board can see its way clear to make a recommendation to abolish the barrier it will encourage our society to prepare a scheme to give effect to it."

Mr. Justice Frazer : "Surely you do not mean that we should abolish it altogether ! Would you abolish the sixth standard educational qualification?" Mr. Connelly: " Oh, no, we don't ask that." The difficulty, he said, was for the second division men to get the opportunity to study first division work. lie had to do it in his own time, and frequently he could not get the opportunity. The shunter, for instance, had very little chance of getting ■ into the booking office or the ' parcels office to icarn. that side of the business. The Department requested a man to qualify in the telegraphic test,- and also laid it down that before sitting for the examination for the first division he should Save had five years' practical experience in the second division- The society wanted those requirements abolished.

His Honnur be some test.'

Obviously there must

Mr. Connelly pointed out that the first division cadet learned telegraphic v ork as part of his service. He suggested that the second division man should be allowed to pass his book test, and then learn telegraphing in the Department's time on being admitted to the first division. If the society's proposal vas given effect' to, he was sure it would enhance the earning power of the Department and give beneficial results generally.

NO BARRIER!

Mr. Sterling, representative of the Department, said there 'was no barrier between the services as the word barrier was generally understood. The position was that the service was classified, just as most other services were classified, and a man had the opportunity to get into the first division if he had the qualifications. It was merely asked that a man should show the necessary qualifications for the transfer to the .higher division. The present system was quite fair and reasonable, and it would be unfair to allow a man into the higher division until he possessed all the qualifications. A scheme which would enable an employee to get into tho first division subject to subsequent qualification would work unfairly, and■he hoped the board would hesitate liefore making any such recommendation. The Department laid it down that- a man should have five years' experience in the second division, and he was given the benefit of that practical work as his apprenticeship forthe first division. That was a fair and reasonable requirement, and it could not be abolished without lowering efficiency in the service. There was no hardship about a second division man passing the telegraphic examination in his own time.

INDISPENSABLE TEST.

lhe whole question had been thrashed out at a previous inquiry, and it was recognised then that the test could not be dono away with. The Department was pleased to see a man enlarge his sphere of usefulness, and it afforded the men every opportunity and encouragement for improving their knowledge, so that they could enter the first division. Mr. Connelly said that nobody should be admitted as an administrator unless U m h%? rght tlu'oueh tlle- service--lie (Mr. Sterling) considered it necessary that every man should be trained tor his special position, and that it did not follow that a good administrator must have had experience in every phase of practical work. He stated emphatically that no man was barred from entry into the first division.

_ After further argument, the board ad journed until Monday.