RAILWAY OFFICERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 135, 5 December 1944, Page 6

RAILWAY OFFICERS

HEARING OF CLAIMS

RESPONSIBLE DUTIES

I Apart from those senior officers who [made statements on the functions of the branches under their control; some 29 witnesses have now given evidence i before the Railways Industrial Tri-. bunal in support of the claims of the. Railway Officers' Institute. „- There-Re-main to be heard about 34 witnesses, including a number of girls, such as office assistants and machinists. ' One of. the witnesses today was Ernest James Chapman, assistant district traffic manager, at Christchurch. His included a reference to claims for goods lost, damaged, or pillaged, the' alarming increase 'in 'which, in recent years, he said, was causing much" concern." "While the adjustment of claims called for a considerable amount of care, claims prevention, was a task which /was constantly before the management, and regular discussions were held with the claims agent to assist him in his.work of claims prevention. In reviewing the duties of the officers under his control, Mr. Chapman said ,it must be borne in mind that the service operated 24 houi's daily over, a widespread area. Members of the staff took up duties at all hours, day and night, and controlling officers must be ready to meet any emergency that might arise. They were obviously carrying out highly important duties m the most important of all industries, that of transport. The nature of the work was such that any failure to function correctly would create difficulty for practically the whole of the community, and it was most desirable that the personnel should be selected men of ability and sound sense. To that end a salary schedule should be commensurate with the responsibility involved in order to attract the right type of recruit and subsequently hold his services loyally to the Department. -. ■■"-.■;.

Evidence was also given by Albert J. A. Fuchs, goods agent at Christchurch. In reply to questions, he said that he had been in grade 1 since October, 1943. his salary being £615 per annum. He had only four months to go to complete 40 years' service. There were quite a few traffic men who did not reach grade 1 in their railway careers.

Dr. W. B. Sutch. representing the service organisations on the tribunal, asked, witness how he found his present income compared with the £320 to £335 he had received in grade 6 some twenty years ago in meeting the cost of living.

"I was discussing that with my wife the other day," replied witness. "She agreed with me that I was better of in grade 6 than I am now."