The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1901. RAILWAY CLASSIFICATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 269, 13 November 1901, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1901. RAILWAY CLASSIFICATION.

Amongst the measures passed during the session of Parliament just closed there are three which will make it memorable in the history of tbe colony. We refer to the Railway's Classification Act, the School Teacher's Salaries Act and the State Coal Mines Act. Of these the Railway's Classification Act is a measure of great importance, and an act of justice to the very large number of railway servants affected by it. For ourselves we never had any doubt but that Sir Joseph Ward wonld redeem the promise made by him to introduce a measure for that purpose, although professedly wpII informed parties continually stated that the Right Hon. the Premier was opposed to the Bill and it had no hope of being carried. This is only another instance of how little dependence can be placed on these reports. Of the measure itself we believe the railway servants will ba fairly well satisfied, and entirely agree with tha remark* of Sir J. G. Ward, i vben moving the second reading of tjie i Bill " that the benefits conferred had been well earned." New Zealand, he said, had a splendid railway service; the employees throughout all grades were a credit to the colony; and the Government had great pleasure in bringing down proposals which would give thm a fair rate of pay and place them generally under More favourable conditions regarding promotion. We believe everyone who ht>s much to do with the railway tmployees will heartily endorse these remarks and rejoice that a measure has been passed which recognises their deserts, The Bill provide that the Department shall be classified into two divisions, with their respective subdivisions, classes, subclasses, and grades as set forth in the sohedules. The rates of pay and of increments thereof in each division are to be as prescribed therein, and are to be regulated by the minimum and maximum limits therein mentioned, in so far as such limits are expressed to apply. With respect to all members of the Department at the time of the coming into operation of the Act, nothing is to be construed to reduce the pay below the rate then actually received or to prejudicially affect the fight to any increase provided for by any regulation now in force. The right to receive any increase of pay in any year is in each case to depend upon the efficiency and good conduct of tha employee to pay such increase is attached in the schedule, and no such increase is to be payable unless tbe permanent head of the department certifies in writing that such employee, is entitled thereto. The Minister is required on April Ist, 1902, to cause all members then in the service to be classified according to the classification set forth in the schedule?, and is to fix each member's rste of pay and the date at which his first annual increment begins to ba payable. It is to be tbe duty of the permanent head of the department to annually certify respecting each member to whose pay an increase is attached, wbeth' r he is or is not entitled thereto; and ha is also to furnish, without comment thereon, a copy of all entries in tha conduct book relating to such member. Any member dissatisfied with such certificate may appeal to the Appeal Boards to be constituted under the Act in the North Island and Middle Island respectively. The same Boards will also deal with appeals from any mem- ; bers dismissed from tne set vice by. warrant of the Minister. In the case ] of penalties imposed by the permanent | head of the department, an appeal will \ lie to the Miniftor. The Governoi -in- , Council is empowered from time to' time to make regulations, not incon- j sistent with the Act, for various pur-1 poses connected with appointments to ■ f he service, the routine of duties, elections of Appeal boards and tbe proceedings thereof, leave of absep.ee, jand the retirement of members, temporary employment of persons in any branch j of the department, with provision that' any person so employed who poss«sse3 j expert knowledge or skill may be appointed permanently, subject to his compliance with the regulations then in force. Nothing in the Act is to operate or ba construed to prevent any j person employed in any position in thp service of the department from attain- j ing to any other position therein. /