Railway Management.

Hastings Standard, Issue 375, 17 July 1897, Page 3

Railway Management.

; IJv Ti-:i.F.<;;:.uui.] (I'll' I'IVHS Axxoriil'inn .) Wem.inotox, Tisis day. The Council of Railway (Juicers Institute report that at the recent meeting they had interviews with Messrs Hudson, Ronavne and the Hon J. Cadman. In answer to various suggestions tbc-y ascertained that the management intend keeping a staff of telegraphists in training. It would be impracticable to move the men from one branch to another to give them experience but it might be done up to ihe grade of clerks. Better cloth for uniforms would be supplied and men sent round to measure. With respect to station masters' houses, the withholding of increases for dcliquencies, and broken leave, Mr Ronayne promised to make inquiries. Arrears ol leave, he said, were partly caused by the consideration of the department in moving delicate men to softer climates, but he thought each man's leave might be fixed by circular. The deputation interviewed Mr Cadman rc classification, insurance and superannuation, restriction of status?, and civil servants' (under the Act of 1800) sick leave and arrears of leave, the payment for Sunday work, and the promotion of officers. ifr (..'adman complained that the delegates at the last conference were agreed about the classification scheme, hiit later 011 he was confronted with objections from all parts of the colony. In future the delegates must be empowered to say yes or no or he would have nothing to do with them. Something practical would probably be'done next session. The new regulations were ready and the institute should have a copy when he considered them, lie couhl promise nothing about insurance and superannuation. The Commissioners had tried and failed to please the service, and he could hold out no hope of Parliament agreeing to restore the Act of I<SOO, under which they could resign and claim compensation. lie agreed that leave should be cumulative and that officers were entitled to their full leave. As to Sunday payment he would stop all Sunday traffic if he could. He would consider the matter, if there was a difference about promolion there was an Appeal Board to go to. He pointed out the difficulty juniors labored under in bringing their grievances before him and suggested that the Institute should assist in such cases.