THE RAILWAYMEN

Grey River Argus, 16 September 1918, Page 4

THE RAILWAYMEN

QUESTION OF SCI'KRAXXI'ATIOX

IS THE KTATK A ITRATK'J

On the nbnve much debated question the "Southland Uaily Xews." in <»>'' of last week's issues had Iln> following leading article, which strongly criticises the 'Government 's action in regard to the ndministrnrion of ihe Hallway Superannuation Fund: — Sect inn 29 of "The War Legislation Act, 1917," is a distinct breach >,( contract on the part of the Stave, lr is conceivable that in a time of Hires-:, such as the present vhe Government of the country should exercise discretion in regard U» administering tlie laws of the country, and it is eminently proper that every man capable of performing his work should be doing something to assist in compensating f*>r the drain on our man-power. But the section to which we refer imposes an injustice on the State's servants of long-standing — an injustice the Government and Parliament would never dream of imposing .on the. wealthy, who are sn much better able to bear it. The Government Kail- j ways Superannuation Act was passed , in. VjO.">, and was declared by those then in authority K> be a sound measure financially. It enabled) railway men of all grades to purchase on the deferred-payment system an annuity due after forty years' service or on the emploj-ee reaching the age oY sixty. At first contribution to the fund was optional, then it became compulsory, and the State decreed Ih:n a man should pay a certain annum!, of his earnings towards providing a competency for himself wheu he had reached the age at "which he had earned leisure The Act, however, provides that no contributor U> the lund shall be entitled to retire during the continuance of the war without the consent of tlie Minister, which virtually means that he must continue in h*s employment unless he is incapable of fulfilling his duties. The position is that the Sfate is depriving witributors to the fund of what >* •- legitimately theirsl as if it was an insurance .policy) and during the years of the war many who are entitled to superannuatjpu may die and have, received no benefit whatever from the .fund. We have advocated that any man 's services should be retained rather than there should be restrictions on railway time-tables never more than adequate for public convenience; but these men who have earned superannuation should have received it when it became due, and whatever work they did thereafter should have been paid for in the ordinary way. The Department has apparently used little discretion in regard to maintaining the strength of the service. Scores icif those who retired on superannuation have offered to. carry out duties for which they were "well qualified, bin have been infvnned that there is n6 work for them to do. Young men have been' permitted to resign when the Dcpari'inent is restricting railway services and suspending express trains because of 11 shortage of labour. At the sine time a temporary provision compels the older men to keep going and seizes as a war sacrifice contributions to the fund they have often made at the expense of home oomforts. There is naturally great dissatisfac l tion in the Department at that arbitrary action. The Government can legalise anything by Act of Parliament but it 1 cannot make injustice justice by any political manipulation. The men say that the Government is guilty of a form of robbery undef arms in breaking the sacred contract, made with those- who are in the Stales employment, and who- nturally look to the State for protection rather than exploitation. Caa Ministers deny the impeachment?