THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12546, 13 April 1904, Page 6

THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

GRIEVANCES OF EMPLOYEES. .

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER.

In the course of his speech to the members of the Railway Servants' Conference on Monday, Sir Joseph Ward, Minister for Railways, dealt at considerable length with the complaints of the conference which were recently made public. He said the most of the requests of last conference referred to matters which were subsequently dealt with in the Classification Act, and when that Act was passed he understood that the whole of the matters arising out of the confcronoo had been dealt with. It was perfectly true that the poll rc the Arbitration Act was restricted to the tradesmen employed in the workshops, but that section was the only one that might have received any doubtful benefit by making a change. This was understood from (ho first, which was proved by a speech delivered at Christen by the general secretary of the society, in which ho urged that only the workshop members should be allowed to vote.

The society further alleged that the Department threw an obstacle in tho way bv restricting the benefits under the Act itself. This statement was contrary to fact. The Department issued tin explanatory circular, so that the men concerned could see clearly what they were voting on and understand that they could nut enjoy the privileges of the Classification Act and the Arbitration Act at the same time. One thousand four hundred and seven voted, of whom only 82, or six per cent, were in favour of arbitration. The society complained that the Department imposed " further restriction by debarring men with less than 12 months' service from voting." The society desired the voting to be confined to the permanent staff and those who had served throe years and over as casuals, but this the Department declined to agree to, and gave all hands with one year's service and upwards a vote in the matter. A further statement was that " since tho poll was taken the Department had modified one of the privileges held out to induce them to remain under the classification, division 11. getting second-class passes, while division I. get? first-class passes." This step was taken to protect the interests of the travelling public, for whose comfort, and convenience he was sorry to say many ol the holders of free passes displayed an utter disregard. It was further alleged that the Department " has placed division 11. under the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, under which they get less accident pay." A very great abuse sprang up under the system that formerly existed, and since the change had come into operation, the number of employes who had asked to be paid for accidents had fallen by over 00 per cent. If they took the "fades of the service right through they would find that the New Zealand railway employees as a whole were better off than in many of the other countries of the world, and they were certainly among the best off as far as pay was concerned. Since the railways had come under the administration of the present Government the increases in pay granted to the members of the railway service amounted to over £300.000. Then it had been stated that those hours were too long, 48 hours were wanted by the men and 54 by the Department and payment for overtime." He was sorry to see a statement made that the public safety was endangered by men who worked long shifts of 17 and 18 hours, which j he considered was a gross exaggeration. The majority of the enginemen, firemen, shop enginenien, and guards worked 54 hours per week, signalmen 48 to 54 hours per week. Ah to the statement of men working 18 hours on a shift, he would be very glad to see those instances removed, but in dealing with them they ought to consider what tho circumstances were. Time and a-quarter was allowed for overtime. Difficulties had to be faced by everyone in a large service like that of the ! Railway Department, but when emergencies j arose the men usually fell into line and did j their very best. Then, again, the conference j complained of acting-firemen being put on j as acting-drivers, and acting-cleaners being put on a3 acting-firemen. This action was j taken as the result of the desire of tiie Department to restrict the hours of the men to reasonable limits. As to the half-holiday for surfacemen, his sympathies were with them in this, and if ho could grant the request he would do so. He had to consider the reports of the responsible officers of the Department in matters in which the safety of the travelling public was involved. Another point referred to by the society was the alleged "excessive ; fines for trivial offences." The fines had only been proportionate to the offence, and the punishment was much more lenient than under the old block regulation, when dismissal followed any irregularity. He had thought of the appointment of an intermediary board to deal with matters of the kind, but saw many difficulties surrounding it. Another matter referred to was that the staff was now divded into two divisions. This was the; general practice amongst railways, and was necessary in the interests of discipline. Then the society said that promotion should be " made on length of service instead of the principle of the member who has been longest at next, inferior rate of pay." His reply to that was that all things being equal promotion should he by length of service, but where the position to be filled was one requiring maturity of judgment and other such . qualifications, then the first available member who was so qualified should be taken. The following statement had been made; — "Political influence puts on a labourer at 7; per day. He is a labourer for a short time, and then is taken on as porter or shunter at the same wage, superseding young men of 22 years of age, who have entered through the retaliation channel and then in receipt of 6s per day." That statement was contrary to fact. A labourer at 7s per day was placed below tho porter at 6* per day. The latter was considered the senior man, and ranked ahead of the labourer, who could not get promotion until he had served three years' probation. He did not know what was meant by reference to political influence. It might mean that the men wanted tho Railway Commissioners appointed instead of the present system of Government control. (Cries of " No, no.") The. society complained that the " Excuse of superior physical requirements too often covered getting a billet without working through the grades;" also that " Promotion does not necessarily go by classification list. A man may bo promoted from low down." Promotion went by the classification list, provided the man possessed the attainments necessary to fill the position. If not, then the next, man was considered. The society suggested that a list be " Compiled to show each man's position, as restrictions of regulation 17 enable the Department to set. aside the list when eve i if. likes." This was in effect asking for automatic promotion irrespective of qualifications. A request had also been made for a- uniform system of examination in connection with the loco, department, and an independent examiner. Ho might state that tho system at present, was uniform throughout the colony, and was mil a. v to that adopted elsewhere. Ho was quite prepared to consider the request that one examiner should be appointed for the colony oi one foi each land. He was expected undei the policy ot the Government to see that the very small amount of three per cent., was earned upon the railways any portion beyond that had gone in the past, to the users of the railways. There had be eon a very large increase in the wages of the employees, and the. position of the railway service as a whole had been greatly improved. The Minister was expected by the colony to administer his Department with j fairness both to the country and to the rail- | way exployeos, and lie was expected to see i that the railways wore maintained in good j condition to meet the traffic. The position | was a very difficult one. He would be prepared to meet the society's delegates in Wellington in about a month's time. • In the meantime ho would go into the various matters' that had been brought before him. and would then be prepared to cive his decision to the deputation representing' the society In reply to a question, the Minister said he would grant saloon passages to railwav eraployees and their families when on transfer. (Applause.)