THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13306, 16 February 1914, Page 9

THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

MR HILEY'S INTENTIONS

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, last night

At an Amalgamated Society of Railway 'Servants' banquet on Saturday night, N Mr Hiley,' General Manager of Railways, said that with the railway business growing as it> was, it was obvious that alterations were pending and were about to be- carried out- He used tho word* < *alt6'*rations" advisedly. Some paragraphist ■/' had it that "reforms" were to pc carried out. He deprecated the use of the word "reform," for it castj a slur on the builders of the Dominion?s' railway service. That impression for i6ne moment should not be allowed to jgo abroad. In fact, the case was quitey the other way. It was natural, howeVer, that with the growth of the sendee/ improvements were necessary, and liif asked the co-operation and assistance pi the railway men iiy the alterations/that were to be carried' out. He asked/that the railway men should assist th/ Department" 'with- suggestions regardiniv the working and organisation of tho muwavs, and m a few days' time he inttfiujcd. "to-'"-irciila_ise. the A.S.R.H. and _ omier railway men with regard to settinf- up a- suggestion board. . The idea *vas not his own, but a "crib" from/ the Great Western Company at Homjo. He would like to. say iit, once thatihe intended to see personally eaoh suggestion .that came m from, the servicp. Ho would. not say that ho would nojb turn a great many of them down, but those which might be useful he •would send on to the suggestion .board, •vi/hich would be set up from officers representing the various branches of the service.

Regarding patents, lie intended to make some improvements. Railway men who had patents would m future be able to send them on to tho suggestion board, which would treat them as conlidential. (Applause.) There would also be a. scheme_ of monetary recognition for the suggestions sent m by the men. 'Some might not be adaptable, but at any rate the actions of the senders would 'be- recognised at least by a. letter of thanks:, from the Department. Mr Hiley congratulated the society on the completion of the new building. Unionism, he said, as long as it was sane, could only be for good. The society .so far had existed on sane lines, and had stuck to its privileges against all temptations. ,He would give them tlie same counsel as Sir Joseph Ward had" done — to establish a reputation for j reasonableness. 'He would always like to open the .society's letters and feel they contained something he could grant at once. After all, the' railway manager was tied hand and foot by finance. (Special to Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. Addressing a banquet attended by the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants' delegates from all parts of New. Zealand, Mr Hiley, general manager of railways, Mas more communicative than he has previously been on any public occasion. He outlined an important proposal regarding employees' innovations. If? gave tho past management unqualified praise regarding the upkeep of rolling stock and the substantial character of tlie pqrni.-inent way. ' The Society's 'President, Mr Wilson, paid cordial tribute to Sir Joseph Ward's work for the railwaymcn during his Ministerial office. They owed to him tho superannuation scheme and the minimum wage for married men. The service had got from him more than an ordinary politician's patient hearing. |Te liad m-et their suggestions m everyway possible. The raihvaymen now wanted, not as a privilege,, but as a right, full civil and political liberty. Sir Joseph Ward prophesied that before 15 years were over Uie railway service, owing to the extension of lines and the expansion of business, would grow to 50,000 men. He gave details of increases of pay during his control. (Applause greeting the. figures). , Mr Hiley said that- < innovations- must be introduced not commercially practicable m the early- stage._ He was glad he was, reminded by * Sir Joseph Ward's speech that he formerly favored aKm for railway development. lie suid that lie could vciv on co-operation iiu the Hous-3 if another was wanted.