RAILWAY OFFICERS’ INSTITUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18898, 26 June 1923, Page 7

RAILWAY OFFICERS’ INSTITUTE

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. (Pbb United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Juno 25. The conference of the Railway Officers’ Institute approved of an extra payment for work between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.. and appointed a committee to make recommendations in regard to penal rates between the hours mentioned. Remits urging that, instead of time off, payment for overtime be pressed for, were negatived uy 18 votes to 13, this being a reversal of the decisions of the two previous conferences. It was agreed that similar penal rates be paid for work performed on Labour Day and the Sovereign’s Birthday, as are at present obtained for work on Christmas Day and Good Friday, and that when any such holiday falls on a Sunday and is observed on the Monday special rates shall bo paid for work performed on the latter day. .it was also decided that captains, mates, and engineers in the Lake Wakatipu service should receive payment for holidays similar to that received by all other members of the First Division of the railway service. ‘ that, except where mutual arrangement is made between the officers concerned, the maximum time worked between recognised meal hours be five hours,” was another remit which received assent; and it was also resolved that, in connection with the question of departmental holidays granted during a week, eight hours bo deducted for each holiday from an ordinary week’s work for the purpose of computing overtime. It was decided that when no relief allowance is involved and a member,of the first division is granted leave of absence on Saturday and Monday he should lose two days’ pay only, provided he is not usually on duty on Stjmduy. The present practice is for the department to deduct throe days’ pay. xhe conference discussed the matter of stationmastens being compelled bo remain in proximity to their„stations after ordinary hours. The conference thought it would be sufficient if a stationmaster advised the officer left in charge as to his whereabouts. The -General Manager is to be requested to circularise district traffic managers and stationmasters setting out a uniform method of dealing with the matter. It was agreed to request the department that members transferred who own houses should bo given a reasonable time to dispose of them in order that they would not lose financially. It was decided to ask that the superannuation board bo empowered in specially deserving cases to extend the superannuation allowances to a widow with a child 16 years of age. The limit at present is 14 years. The conference resolved that the widows’ superannuation allowance should bo increased from £l6 to £75; that superannuation contributors should be allowed to take, a reduced retiring allowance in order to make additional provision for their wives in the event of the contributors predeceasing them; also that superannuitants’ widows should receive allowances similar to that of the widow of a man who dies while in service. It was decided that the maximum superannuation allowance to members who have joined the service since December 24, 1909. should be increased to £4OO per annum. ,