CONFERENCE OF RAILWAY SERVANTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9257, 20 July 1893, Page 5

CONFERENCE OF RAILWAY SERVANTS.

(BY TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Wednesday. At tho Railway Insurance Conference, today, a deputation was appointed to wait on the Commissioners, to obtain information as to the bearing of clause 5, subsection C, on the accident and sick pay now granted to railway employes, under the rules and regulations of the service. The deputation subsequently reported that the Commissioners had promised to extend the present privileges respecting sick pay to all employes, and had stated that if this clause were deleted, it would be equivalent to reducing the retiring age to 00 years at the present contribution. It was therefore resolved that this clause bo delete from the Bill, and that a letter be sent to the Commissioners, thanking them for the very valuable concession regarding sick pay which they have promised. As to clause 0, subsection 2, it was resolved that two separate tables of contributions be prepared, one providing for retiring allowance, and one for an endowment policy, any employee to be allowed to contribute to either benefit or both, contributions to be reduced to the lowest, possible limit. It was agreed that six days constitute a week. On clause 6, , jub section 5, it was resolved that tho Government be asked to subsidise the fund to the extent of not less than 23 per cent, of the total contributions of the employees. Clauses 7 and 8 were approved. Clause 9 is to bo amended so as to reduce the age of retirement to sixty years, and that it should be at the option of the employee whether to retire at that hjjjc or not. It was also decided to add another clause providing for retirement at the ago of 55 years of any utnployeo who desired to do so by paving a larger contribution, and that in drafting the Bill tho Commissioners be asked to furnish tables showing the contributions which would have to be paid in each case. Subsections 1 and 2 of clause 10 were approved, with the exception of the age reading GO instead of 05 years. A further recommendation was made providing that employees who so desire could, by paying an increased contribution, provide for half-pay superannuation allowance. It was resolved that clause 11, relating to sick allowance, bo cancelled, and that clause 12 be mado to read in conformity with clauso 5, subsection A, and that provisions re bonus under clause 22 be inserted. Clauses 13 and 15 were approved, and clause 14 was cancelled, as it was considered unfair that. an employee should be deprived of the benefit to which ho is justly entitled by virtue of having paid contributions to secure it. The Conference then adjourned until to-morrow. The following is the text of a letter forwarded to tho Railway Commissioners by the Railway Insurance Conference: — "Gentlemen,—The delegates appointed by the r lway employees to the conference now oeing held in Wellington, desire to thank you for the kind manner in which you received their deputation this morning ; also for the concessions that you have promised them, viz., that should subsection 0 of clause 5 of tho Railway Employees Insurance Bill as proposed be deleted, and the Bill thereafter become law, the present regulations regarding sick and accident pay will be extended to all employees."