THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13368, 19 August 1907, Page 6

THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

AMENDING CONDITIONS. As a result of metings recently held by twenty-five me nib; is of the House of Representatives to consider the conditions of service in certain branches of the railway service, a series of recommendations was drawn up with a view of improving these conditions. The recommendations were submitted to the Minister by a deputation of members on Thursday. ' The following recommendations were made regarding wages: —Crossing and bridgekeepers to receive 7i> per day, and rent free where homes are provided ; and in all other cases 8s per day. Junior labourers in traffic and maintainance brancehs, on attining 21 years of age, to 'receive a mail's pay. Casual labourers in goods sheds, and coalmen, to bj paid overtime at the late of timeand a puarter for all work performed before 8 a m. and after 5 p.m., and time and a half 011 .Sundays, Vhristmas Day, New Year's Day, and Good Friday, and other statutory holiday.?, and to be given privilege tickets. Cleaners to receive a minimum pay of 4s 6d per day. (Note.— Better provision to be mad for cleaners' stoivs:.) Brakesmen to be allowed standi;iy time in the same manner as guarcand engine drivers. Bridgemen to ba allowed to lies to a higher grade and rate of pay. Gangers to be jiaid 9s per day. Railmakers to have provision made on the D 3 lint for a leading hand. Turners and trimmers to be placed in Sub-class 1 Grades 1 and 2 of the schedules to the Classification Act, and to have provision made for a leading hand. Woodworking machinists to receive a minimum of 10s per day, and to be placed in a class by themselves on the D 3 list. Smiths to receive from 9s 6d (minimum) to lis. Shops enginemen to have a 48 hour week. .-h:i liters to be re-graded in order to j)!ace a larger proportion of them in the first and second grades. Guards to receive a minimum of 8s 6d in the second grade, and a. minimum of 10s in the first grade. Firemen to receive a minimum of 8s in ihe second grade, and a minimum of S. in ihe firstgrade. .Signalmen to receive a minimum of Hs in tlie third grade, a minimum of 3s 6d in th; second grade, and a minimum of 9s 6d in the first grade. Cadet.? to b - ia\durably recommended to the Goyjriimer.i:!. for an increase.

()tlicrwere madv a* fol-lows-:—.Superannuation .Act to )«.• niueiid<d mj ;«i to permit the widow of a jnenibsr dying on the fund lo n-ceivu the k;h:h» payments ax if he died before going on tiio fund: that the advances-to pay to the lower paid men made in 1905 be provided for bv an amendment of the Classification Act, that where men are suspended and reinstated they .should receive half-pay for tlia

period of their suspension ; sick pay members of the second ivisiun to be piaced on the same footing as members of t.ie nrsdivision; that a larger percentageof equals be placed on the permanent ll.it; that the .Minister's attention be called to anomalies; ' (Xoti Boilei maki rs away from home receive 66;, engine-drivel's away from home receive ss. and carpentirs away form home receive 4s); examining lengths to be done in the Department's time ; that the Appeal Board's decision be final in respect of appeals against dismiwal and on the puestion of promotion, and that the delay in making known the decision- of the board be brought under the notice of the Minister for rectification ; dining car men -to be placed on 1)3 list; that in ad cases vdk-t-.' there are no officers, provisions bj made to flag the- crossing of trains. 'ilie Press was not- admitted when the deputation waited on the Premier, but tho chief points in tho Premier's reply were statements that- it was intended to prepaie a fresh classification of the railway servants and also to separate the railway workshop's from the gentral railway service.