CIVIL SERVICE PAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1944, Page 6

CIVIL SERVICE PAY

COMPARISONS MADE

RAILWAY-MEN'S-CLAIMS

.Comparisons between the remuneration and responsibilities of postmasters in some inland centres and those of stationmasters in the same towns were made in evidence submitted to the Railways Industrial Tribunal today on behalf oil the Railway Officers' Institute. In outlining various phases of the work performed by grade 5 railway officers, A. F. Gilmore, officer in charge of the reserved seats office, Wellington, referred to the stationmaster at such places as Levin, Lower Hutt, Featherston, and Pahiatua. As a rule, he said, the stationmaster was graded lower than the local postmaster, but it was submitted that the responsibilities of the railway officer were much greater. His chances of making a slip which would detrimentally affect his career were such that it would be futile to endeavour to make a comparison with other sections of the Public Service. Many of the purely clerical positions also carried responsibilities which were very much underpaid. .In reply to questions, the witness said he had no intimate knowledge of the responsibilities of the postmaster at, say, Lower Hutt as against those of the stationmaster there. The postmaster at Levin was in. grade 2 and the stationmaster in grade 5. At Pahiatua the postmaster was in grade 3 and the stationmaster in grade 5. A COMBINED OFFICE. The comparison was also touched upon by Jack O'Brien, train-control operator, Wellington, in the course of his evidence. At Fordell, a combined office, he said, the stationmaster was also the postmaster. In that-dual capacity he was responsible not only for the proper accounting of the railway revenue, in addition to his many other duties, but also for the proper accounting and discharge of a full range of postal duties. Mr. E. Casey, Government nominee on the tribunal, suggested that the railway work at Fordell was usually "pretty; light." "Not during the years I was there," replied witness, "nor at the present time. There is a Public Works camp there constructing a deviation." Mr. Casey: That is only a passing phase. Witness: It has been going on about ten years. (Laughter.) He had heard it stated 'that the postal work at Fordell was the heaviest of any combined office in the Wanganui district, witness added. During his service as stationmaster at Eketahuna it was not uncommon for people to want seats booked and other requirements filled after the office was closed. They would knock on the front door of his house or call him out of the garden. "I hardly think the postmaster would have opened up after hours if somebody had wanted a money order," he remarked. NIGHT ALLOWANCE CLAIM. P. Hogan, clerk in the district traffic manager's office, Wanganui, supporting the claim for a night allowance for first division members, said that for many years he had had to work the ! clock round on 'rotating shifts. The | problem of food and sleep and how to make an arrangement to fit in with the requirements of the household as well as those of the individual were one of the greatest that the shift worker and his family had to face. "I can honestly say," said witness, "that after many years of shift work I have not found an arrangement which provides a satisfactory solution to the problem." Replying,to questions, witness said that there were a few men who had never worked night shifts, but they were the lucky ones. It was quite likely that he would still have to do night shifts when he went up to the next grade. Dr. W. B. Sutch, representing the service organisations on the tribunal: There seems to be no escape? Witness: It seems to be inevitable To Mr. V. J. R. Stanley, the R. 0.1. assessor, witness said that first division members were the only ones not receiving extra payment for night Work.