FIRST DIVISION OF RAILWAYS

Southland Times, Issue 25546, 14 December 1944, Page 3

FIRST DIVISION OF RAILWAYS

PLEA FOR INCREASED SALARIES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, December 13. The Railway Officers Institute’s claims for increased pay were placed before the Railways Tribunal by Mr J. S. Roscoe, secretary of the institute, today. Mr Roscoe said that subsequent to the reductions of 1921-22 the institute had at intervals sought a return to parity with the modest salary scale of 1920. A general scale had been worked out to produce approximation to the net salary required in 1942 to assure purchasing power parity with 1921. A railway clerk with 25 years’ service in 1942 received 29 per cent, more than his prototype of 1914, whereas the retail price index was 76 per cent, higher, while incomes in general had increased over 80 per cent. A substantial number earned no overtime. The time was approaching when overtime would not be worked and it should have no bearing on the salary scale. The percentage increase sought ranged from 22 at the bottom to 39 at the top, with a medium of 30 for the group represented by those with 25 years’ service.