WAR BONUS

Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 8

WAR BONUS

THE RAILWAY SERVICE. (Fb«m Own. Okk Cobkespondent.) WELLINGTON, Juno 20.

Tho Minister o: Railways made an explanation today of tho Government's proposal* regarding the payment of a war bonus 10 railway servants. Mr Herriea said that in addition to the war bonus of Is per day which was given recently to tho second division of the service, it was now proposed to give to members of the first division a bonus of £ls a year to married men and £7 10s to single men whose present salaries do not exceed £315 per annum. The salaries in ' tho seventh grade range from £265 to £315 per annum, and there were only about 160 men ooneerned, many of whom were still far short of the maximum salary. Another point to Lo considered —a very important point, too —wa.s the fact that, a large number of men were practically at tho highest maximum they would ever obtain. Tho grade represented a convenient break to the department. Many of the men in that position had been promoted from tho second division, so that they were in every respect entitled to the proposed increase. The Minister further pointed out that tho maximum salary in grade 8 was £265 a year. If tho war bonus of £ls a year wore to stop there, the _ men at the top of grade 8 would bo getting £275. whereas tho men at tho bottom of grade 7 would also get £265 a yean. It would, therefore, not pay a man to take promotion. The salaries in grade 8 ranged from £230 to £260, and thos-o in grade 9 from £125 to £220. Grade 10 was composed of cadets, whose salaries ranged from £5-0 to £llO. They would receive a bonus of £7 10s a year. , , The increases to both divisions will probably run into £IB.OOO a year.

GRANTED TO IRON WORKERS. CHRISTCHUROH, Juno 20. The Arbitration Court to-day granted the workers in tho iron industry a war bonus of 33 weekly. Tho employers agreed to tho application.