RETIRING RAILWAY SERVANTS

Evening Star, Issue 18532, 15 January 1924, Page 2

RETIRING RAILWAY SERVANTS

REPORT CONFIRMED. DEPARTMENT’S POLICY STATED. [Per UimitD Pnssa Associate;:.} W-ELLINGTON, January 14. Confirmation was given by the Acting Prime Minister" (Sir Francis Bell) this morning, in the absence of the Minister of Railways (the Hon. J, G. Coates), who is on tour in the north, to a rumor that a number of senior officers in the railfftiy service are to be retired on superannuation. The matter has been under consideration for some time, and it became known in departmental circles recently that the long-expected changes were shortly to be effected. The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants and other bodies have made several representations to the Minister pointing out that many of the officers of the department are past superannuation age. Many of the gentlemen affected occupy high positions in the service, and their retirement on superannuation will cause promotion for officers .throughout the service. Sir Francis Bell stated that whereas the Government has always had the right to retire Civil servants who have given forty years’ service or more, the policy has now been adopted that, upon reaching the superannuation age, they must tender their resignations In accordance with this decision the General Manager of Railways has already intimated to a number of high-placed officials that they are required to retire on superannuation. Sir Francis Bell was unable to say how many officers would be affected by the change, but he said that there would be a considerable number.