RAILWAY SERVICE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 90, 24 March 1924, Page 6

RAILWAY SERVICE.

PAY AND CONDITIONS. WAGES BOARD INQUIRY OPENED Wellington, March 24. Th© Wages Board set up to investigate questions relating to pay and conditions of work in the railway service commenced its sittings to-day. Mr. H. D. Acland (Christchurch) presiding. The Minister of Railways and the general manager of the railways were present at the opening. The discussion is open to the press except such portion as it is decided to conduct in committee.

The first question debated was the increase of 2s 6d a day sought by the A.b.K.S. for its members. Mr. Connolly. president of the A.S.R.S.. said that the Board was convened primarily as the result of the failure of negotiations with the Minister regard to the wages question, which was of paramount importance to the men and upon which they desired an early decision. He outlined the progress of the representations made bv the society to the Department since th e conference of February. 1923. There was growing dissatisfaction among railwaymen with the present rate of wages, and the conditions of employment. The recent negotiations had been broken up by the society a,s it appeared the Minister had no definite offer to make. He maintained that in consideration of the rise in the cost of living the men were entitled to an increase and to a decent standard of living. At this stage of civilisation a man’s reward should not be based upon what it costs to keep him, but something higher. If the Department or any other employer of labour wanted the best results they must offer some inducements for the workers to do their best in their particular industry. He pointed out the neavy responsibilities of the men employed in the carriage of passengers and of the danger to themselves on the road. He also referred to the hardships caused bv the system of transfers, which prevented men joining educational classes or clubs or indulging in other social ties. Mr. Connolly went on to deal with the case of the society in justification of the claim for 2s 6d rise in the daily rate of wages.

Mr Sterling, for the Railway Department agreed trat the men should nave a decent standard of living and an incentive lor good work. On general principles he thought the parties were at one and he complimented Mr Connolly on the case he had put up and tho lack of bitterness with which he had presented it.