RAILWAY OFFICERS’ INSTITUTE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14982, 30 April 1909, Page 2

RAILWAY OFFICERS’ INSTITUTE.

[Pee Press Association-.J WELLINGTON, April 28. Under the presidency, of Mr 'At Graham (Christchurch), the eighth conference of the New Zealand Railway Officers’ Institute commenced to-day . in, Wellington, the delegates being as follows .--—Messrs Barclay and G. N. Wallace (Wellington), D. H. E; Foster/and J. D.* M’Comish (Auckland), ' H. A. Wright and R. W. Bennett nui), A.' Riekman, H. P. Stanway and W. A. Marshall (Dunedin), G. 'T. Robinson and P. Keogh (Christchurch), J. G. M’Pherson (Invercargill) and A. W. Hutchings (general-secretary,' Wellington). It is expected, that the conference will last a week, for there' is a big order paper) on which _ the leading items are the reorganisation of the Institute, transfer of executive headquarters, increase of contributions, paid secretary and organisers, appeals, annual leave, compulsory retirement;, at sixty, and classification of Manawatu employees. The Executive Council’s eighthreport shows ■ that among the reforms secured are the reduction of hours in large offices to seven per day and automatic tablet exchanges" introduced. Among other questions dealt with by the executive during the , past two years were overdue leave, shortage of clerioal staff, classification of casual clerks, new statibnmasters, Rouses erected by the public department not up to, the new railway standard, and improvement of existing stationmasters* houses. With regard to the amendments in the Superranuation Act,, the Executive'Council expresses the opinion that the concessions made were the Maximum. that the Minister of Railways and Parliament were prepared to concede, and that if further demands had been made the Bill would have been ’ dropped. No Act had been placed on the Statute-book : which 1 has given satisfaction to all concerned, and the committee is of opinion that the benefits conferred by the Act of 19.07 are of great value to a large majority of the officers rin Division 1. The institute’s membership was reported " to be'l2oo,i and the credit balance £237 16s Bd. The report observes./ that while a large increase has taken place in the membership, it is with , regret that the Council notes that there are nearly 400 members of No.. A division who are content to receive all the benefits the. Institute can secure them and remain outside its pale, paying nothing. Regarding the new Minister of Railways, it states: “In our new' Minister, the Hon Mr Millar, we recognise we have a gentleman of the_ highest integrity ana possessing qualifications which will go far to make him one of the best railway Ministers New Zealand has had.” /