RAILWAY WORKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22320, 18 January 1936, Page 12

RAILWAY WORKS

NEW ROLLING STOCK PROGRAMME AT OTAHUHU FULL STAFF RETAINED , DISMISSAL NOTICES CANCELLED The retention of an augmented staff at the Otahuhu railway workshops over the Christmas holiday period this year instead of the usual annual practice of reducing the number of employees considerably has necessitated a supplementary works programme to ensure that all the men will be kept fully employed. In previous years it has been the policy of the Railways; Board to synchronise the completion of its major work 9 programme with the Christmas vacation. During the first nine months of each financial year the workshops staff lias been augmented by the engagement of several hundreds of temporary employees, especially since the reduction of the permanent staff under the late Government's economy policy in 1931. In the past three years the staff has been increased annually to upward of 1000 men during the busy period and in several departments double shifts have been necessary to expedite the completion of the work schedule. Notices to 100 Men From Christmas to the end of the financial year at March 31 a policy of gradually reducing the staff was adopted, and notices of dismissal to several hundreds of men became effective from the eve of Christmas. The usual policy was apparently contemplated in December last, as notices of dismissal were issued to about 100 men. "When the Labour Government came into power, many of the temporary employees assumed that there would be no break in their employment.

Representations were made to members of Parliament in the Auckland district, and just before the holidays the notices were cancelled. Over 300 men were listed for dismissal, and there was widespread relief among their ranks when their retention was intimated.

As the balance of the annual works programme is insufficient to give full employment to all the men until the preparation of the nest financial rear's schedule, the department has had to introduce a supplementary programme. This provides for the construction of 10 new passenger coaches foir use on the main line of the North Island, 160 waggons for the transport of sheep and 20 waggons for carrying freezing works produce. New Guards' Vans A number of new guards' vans are also to be constructed, including four 56ft. main line vans of the latest type, and five 30ft. vans for ordinary service. The reconstruction and renovation of old-type cars and waggons will also provide considerable employment. This will involve the dismantling of about 200 produce-freight waggons and rebuilding on the latest lines of insulation, and the replacement of old-typo seating in passenger cars with chair seats. In addition, the ordinary work of repair and renovation of worn and damaged rolling stock will be carried out.

From the details of the new programme available it is anticipated that the present augmented staff of about 950 men will be kept busy for fully 12 months.