CUT IN RAILWAY FARES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20977, 14 September 1931, Page 10

CUT IN RAILWAY FARES.

DECISION OF BOARD. n (Reduction of 20 per cent. IN EFFECT NEXT SUNDAY. HOLIDAY EXCURSION RATES. fEY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Saturday. An important announcement to-dav in regard to the. policy decision of the Railways Board to reduce substantially tho passenger rates was made by the chairman, Mr. 11. 11. Sterling. Ihe board had decided upon an immediate reduction of 20 per cent, in ordinary single ticket fares and the institution of holiday excursion rates—equivalent to a reduction of rather more than 20 per cent, on ordinary fares —for return tickets, [until further notice, said Mr. Sterling. "In coming to this decision," the chairman continued, "the board has taken full cognisance of all the factors relating to the present transport situation. In a time of falling prices and reduced spending power, the proper course for a national ser'vice such as the railways to pursue is to assist in readjustment by appropriate reduction in passenger fares. "The board recognises that the immediate effect of the new rates will be a reduction in revenue. However, the substantial concessions will provido a welcome relief to tho users of the railways in a period of depression, prove an aid to travel and lead to an increased use of trains, to an extent which ultimately will mean no loss in goods revenue. "The reductions will take effect from September 20." Alterations in Express Services. • In a further statement Mr. Sterling Announced that the board had decided upon the following alterations in express services Opua-Whangarei.—At present the North [Auckland express train runs beyond Whaugaiei to Opua on Tuesdays, Ihursdays and Saturdays and from Opua to W hangarei on Mondays, Wednesdays and •Fridays. The alteration to be made in these services is that in future the express train will run both ways between iWliangarei and Opua on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Auckland-Rotorua Limited. —The express from Auckland to Rotorua in future will stop at Okoroire and the express from Rotorua to Auckland will stop at Okoroire, Ngaruawahia and Tuakau. All these stops arc additional to those at present being mado by these trains. Christchuvch-Dunedin-lnvercargill night express.—At present these trains run threo nights a week. It has been found that business on the nights on which the trains run, other than Sundays, does not justify their continued running. The board recognises that night trains in the South Island are a comparatively new service and the traffic is one which it .would take time to develop. TJnremunerative Trains Cut Out.

The board feels, however, that owing to the present financial position it is rot able to continue this developmental •work ap the moment and it has therefore reluctantly decided to suspend the. running of the trains in the meantime for two nights a week. The trains will still leave Christcljurch and Invercargill respectively on Sunday nights. Fairlie Branch. —The train which hitherto' has run from Timaru to Fairlie end back on Mondays is to be cancelled, as the business done has be«n found not to warrant its continued running.

Invercargill-Bluff Sunday Trains.—The running of these trains, so far as passenger business is concerned, is Lot remunerative to the department. During the oyster season use has been made of the trains for the transport of oysters, but with the close of the season the continued running of the trains would involve the department in financial loss, and it has therefore been decided to discontinue them.

STAFF ECONOMIES.

IMPORTANT ALTERATIONS. MORE ' RETIREMENTS PENDING. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.3 WELLINGTON, Sunday. Important economies are in immediate prospect in the railway service, according to a statement made yesterday by tbe chairman of tlio Railways Board, Mr. H. H. Sterling. The proposed economies have been communicated to all the railway organisations and Mr. Sterling lias discussed them with the official representatives of Ihc various staffs. A certain number of permanent, employees with more than 30 years' service will be retired under Section 14 of the Finance Act, 1931. Where there is a surplus of permanent men in any of the railway workshops for whom work cannot be found on the spot a certain number of /■ men may be transferred to other workshops. Men so transferred will bo unmarried men and casual workers may be paid off to make room for them. Transfers from shop to shop will bo made as an emergency step only and .will bo kept down to an absolute minimuni. It is not. intended to transfer married men, .but it may occur that there is a surplus of married men in come craft, necessitating reductions in the numbers in that craft. Preference will be given to them :11 any other trades where they can be suitably employed. For iuBtanrc. if a permanent blacksmith is not required but there is a casual striker employed the permanent blacksmith will be given preference for the position of striker. Permanent employees will be given preference for retention in the service over all casual workers, but their standard of work will have to meet, the requirements of the department, otherwise they will be liable to be paid off for Inefficiency. In regard to the meal allowance it. will no longer be, considered a time allowance, brtt where an employee is on duty toiitinuously for 11 hours or more and purchases a meal he will receive an allowance for the meal. So far as departmental holidays are concerned the ipecial rates of pay with a day added to the annual leave will be abolished and tingle rates of pay with a day added lo the annual leave will be substituted

Wage employees of tlie stores branch ire to liave their hours reduced from 48 '.o 44 a week. This brings these employees into line with the workshops erailoyees, ,lo whom the stores employees work in close proximity. The payment .if rate and a-quarter to engine cleaners for work clone at night is to bo discontinued. In future, cleaners will be paid the ordinary rate only for such work The granting of overlime relief to members of the salaried staff for hours worked in excess of 48 in cadi week is also to i>e discontinued and the armigejnent previously in force of granting some measure of relief to members oF the salaried staff only where there is a long spread of hours, and where the work is intensive, is to bo reintroduced. A reduction is also to be made in the time allowance granted to guards in connection with correspondence.