A NEW RAILWAY JOURNAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 957, 8 March 1910, Page 6

A NEW RAILWAY JOURNAL.

THE POSITION OF OFFICERS,

We liavo to acknowledge (from Mr 0. T. CJosßwell, aoting braqoli secretary, R. 01., Palmerston North) a copy of "The New Zealand Railway Oilioers' Advocate," a new publica* tion of the Institnte, printed at Dunedin, on the Ist of eaoli month. Oommeutiug upon what it describes as "the remarkable saving in working expenses effected by the Minister for Railways for 7719 per cent in 1908-9 to 71'77 in the current railway year, in spite of the faot that the only notable alterations in tariff during the period were extension of the suburbau areas attached to the chief cities, and a slight reduction on the rates of Crown coal carried for 155 miles and over, botli tending to reduce revenue. The Advooate, however, is conoernect at the faot that one of the aids to the savings effected is that as men retire their work ia being done by men below them in grade without comiag up to the salary that the previous man was receiving, although it admits that no one has had his salary • roclnoed. Those in' the lower grade men's duties previously performed by men at £220 per annum has to be undertaken by meu in the 10th grade, in which the maximum ratq of pay is £2OO per annum, and where the work is done by a man who was receiving £IBO per annum advanced to £2OO, the Advocate says "he is given £2O per annum with one hand, whilst £4O a year is taken from him with another." Ab a further illustration it is pointed ont that when Messrs Grant and Arthur retired from the service "with them vanished the title Traffic Superintendents," likewise the salary attaching thereto. We presume, however, that the special duties appertaining to the position remain and aie being performed. The Advooate considera that there must bo ultimate failure of the Dopaitment to accomplish successfully "the feat of .obtaining 20s worth of labour in return for payment of less that that amount." .The same feat having been unsuccessfully attempted by private employers. Many other matters of interest to railway meu are dealt with ami there is news from various brunches, and the Advooate should act as a useful corollary to the Railway Institute.