OUR RAILWAYS.

Feilding Star, Volume 2, Issue 134, 25 March 1924, Page 6

OUR RAILWAYS.

CONE LICIT XG VIE W POl NTS. SUGGESTED RETURN TO 48HOUR WEEK. (Per Preßa Association) Wellington, March 21. Mr Sterling, second assistant general manager, giving evidence before the Railway Wages Board, said the New Zealand railways' compared favourably with other similar industries in the matter of pay. The 44 hours’ week was costing the department JL253,000 more than the 1-8 hours did. No other railway was working the shorter hours except Queensland, and there only tin., workshoo hands. He suggested going back to 48 hours, and did not think it would mean a

: reduction in staff. The increase in wages had been considerably more than that, of the cost of living. In .1923, the inerea.se represented 75 per cent, over 1.91 I, and 50 per cent, over that of .1919. EMPHATIC DECISION. Air Alack said he feared the arbitration system was being tested, and Imped it would not fail as he deprecated the use of strength. He stated that the average number of children in. a railwayman’s family was four, and the cost of household I'l R)s 7d per week, and the men should be allowed a. fair standard of living. After further discussion, Air Mack said tlie Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants had definitely made up their minds not to agree to an extension of hours from 41 to PS. no matter what the result of tlie conference. might be. The Board will resume to-morrow.