RAILWAY’ INSTITUTE

Southland Times, Issue 19275, 20 June 1924, Page 6

RAILWAY’ INSTITUTE

ANNUAL MEETING OF OFFICERS. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 19. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet at the annual meeting of the Railway Officers’ Institute, Mr J. R. Robertson, President, said nearly 30 years had elapsed since the organisation was brought into being, but much of its work had stood the test of time. There was talk now of resuscitating the “one big union” idea, but from what had passed recently he considered they could proceed with equanimity as a separate organisation looking after their own affairs and attending to the wants of their own members.

Mr Robertson referred to the compulsory retirement of members after 40 years’ ser vice which, he said, provided an open question as to whether it was a blessing or a curse. He also referred to the recent strike, which the Conference would consider at a later stage and to the Institute's proposed increases in salaries which, he claimed, were reasonable as the cost of living had risen during the year. A motion was carried that night work be paid for at an additional rate between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. A proposal from Auckland and Invercargill tfiat overtime be paid for in cash instead of time off was rejected. Various remits, most of which had been discussed by previous conferences, dealing with payment for duty on statutory holidays, hours of duty, Sunday work and overtime were disposed of. The Conference occupied the afternoon with questions affecting superannuation and superannutants, remits concerning which will again be discussed to-morrow. The following remit from the Wellington branch was carried, after a length discussion: That this Conference congratulates the Minister of Railways on his decision that officers with service of 40 years and over shall be compulsorily retired, but urges that in the future no exception to the rule be made.