THE RAILWAYS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 20 June 1924, Page 6

THE RAILWAYS.

BOARD OF INQUIRY

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 19. After three days’ argument before ihe Railway Inquiry Board, tlieAhico main claims, relating to wages, hours, and overtime, have been disposed of, and now 60 to 70 odd minor classes ot the A.S.R.S. demands arc under consideration. ' ■ . To-day Mr Sterling, for the, Depajtroent, submitted a counter-demand that surfacemen should always start, .and cease work at the same time. j'. bns said, would make for greater efficiency in the service. He also offered an. allowance in lieu of the payment for travelling time. ' . On behalf of the society, Mr Con nolly contended that the object of J ha proposal was to get additional time out of the men opposing the request that the casual quarry men should be paid full time for wet weather. Air Sterling denied that the men were in any sense permanent hands, and said they were ordinary labourers, and were treated as such by the Department. All* Connolly dealt at length.with the necessity for shunting gangs in riie large yards to be composed of not loss than three classified shunters. It was also asked that where three or less men were continuously employed in shunting operations, they should be classified as shunters, and paid accordingly. Speaking of overtime, Air Sterling sa d that it would be recognised that in a transport service night-work could not be avoided. When, that time was ordinary time there was no reason why any extra rate should be paid. Air Hunter: There is extra expense in a home when a man is on -night work. .Mr Connelly said the Society agreed that some nightwork was unavoidable, but as it was an unnatural time for men to be working, it was desired that some check should be put upon the Department.- Alen were entitled to a special rate, when they were required to work between 6 p.m.- and 6 a.m.. Air Sterling said that another request by the Society was that any man brought on duty on any one day should be paid for a minimum of not less than four hours. All* Connelly said this was very important to tiie Society. Locomotive men had this privilege, but members of the A.S.R.S. bad not. The men most affected were traffic men. At times these men were brought on for half an hour or other short periods.