RAILWAY PAY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12010, 11 March 1920, Page 4

RAILWAY PAY.

. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. Per Press Association Wellington, March 10 An important statement was issued by the Minister of Railways to-day. Mr Massey said: Judge Stringer’s report is now subject to' adverse criticism by some* of the men for whose benefit the Board, over which he presided, was set up. Surely every thinking member of the community will agree with me in saying that the time has now arrived when a pause must be called, and the whole position seriously considered. Pre-war rates for passenger traffic have already been materially increased, and an impost.of 21 per cent has been levied in respect of the bulk of the goods traffic in order to stabilise the finances of the Railway Department. To meet the farther increase in wages and salaries re commended in Mr Justice Stringer’s report, and the very serious advance in the prices of all railway material and stores, a further increase of 4‘> per cent will require to be made* in fares and’rates. The Government is exceedingly anxious to do everything possible for members of the Public Service, whether in the railway or any other department, but at a time like this, following the cessation of war. we must look forward to a period of considerable financial stringency, and in consequence, require to be more than usually careful.