RAILWAY SERVANTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 74, 24 September 1936, Page 25

RAILWAY SERVANTS

THE FORTY-HOUR WEEK

"Of approximately 3000 officers employed in the first division of the Railway Department, at least two-thirds are actually enjoying" a 40-hour week or less, and the same conditions will apply to the balance of the clerical staff as soon as circumstances will permit," said the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan), in reply to an urgent question agked in the House of Representatives yesterday by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (National, Kaipara).

Mr. Coates asked whether members of, the clerical and official staff of the Railway Department were to receive the same treatment as other members of the staff during the introduction of the 40-hour week. He also inquired if those officials were being granted conditions equal to the members of the other sections of the service pending trained staff being available to allow the 40-hour, week to become fully operative. He added that the question was asked as a result of representations made to him by members of the railways service in his electorate.

The Minister said that the members of the clerical staff were paid at an annual rate, and enjoyed much more generous conditions than did the members of the second division, particularly in regard to their sick and annual leave.

"Are those not working the 40-hour week being paid overtime?" asked Mr. H. G. Dickie (National, Patea).

"No, none of them," replied the Minister. The Minister added that it was not unreasonable to hope that the salaried staff of the Department who were not yet enjoying complete 40-hour week conditions, and who were mostly engaged at stations outside the main centres, would continue to work under the modified conditions obtaining until circumstances 'would permit of the complete institution of the 40-hour week, which was being brought about with the utmost dispatch.