RAILWAYMEN'S WAGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18762, 16 July 1924, Page 8

RAILWAYMEN'S WAGES.

BOARD SITS LONG HOURS. BULK OF WORK FINISHED. •■ - - I A TEMPORARY ADJOURNMENT.: REPORT EARLY IN AUGUST. [BY. TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON". Tuesday. The Board of Inquiry set up to investigate and report on the wages, hours, and conditions of employment of the members of those branches of the railway service represented by the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, has been deliberating in committee since the conclusion of its public- sittings on June 25 on the various matters submitted for its consideration. Two members of the board, Messrs. W. Scott and H. Hunter, employers and workers' representatives respectively on the Court of Arbitration, left for Christchurch by Monday's ferry steamer. Mr. Justice Fraxer will leave by Wednesday's steamer, and with the other members of the Court, will proceed on Thursday to Greymouth, where the Court is to sit on Friday. After holding sittings at Greymouth, Hokitika, Westport, and Blenheim, the members of the Court will return to Wellington.

The other members of the Railway Inquiry Board —Messrs. J. Mason, FirstAssistant General Manager of Railways, and M. J. Mack, general secretary of tbe Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants —are remaining in Wellington.

Mr. J. A. Gilmour, secretary, of the board, stated this morning that no information would be available regarding the outcome of the board's deliberations until its report had been considered by the Minister for Railways.' He mentioned, however, that up to Monday last the board had been sitting almost continuously from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., week-days and Sundays, and had dealt with the greater number of the 77 remits submitted for consideration. The board had adjourned in order to enable the sittings of the Court of Arbitration in the "Westland and Marlborough districts, which had beep twice postponed, to be disposed of. The Minister, Hon. J. G. Coates, had extended the date by which the board was required by its order of reference to report from July 31 to August 12. "Mr. Gilmour added tb#t the board expected to complete its report early in August.