RAILWAY INSTITUTE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 20 June 1924, Page 7

RAILWAY INSTITUTE.

ANNUAL MEETING. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 19In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet at the annual meeting of the Railway Othcers’ Institute, Mr R. J- Robertson (president) said that nearly thirty 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, hut 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 ct their own members. Mr Robertson referred to the compulsory retirement after forty vears’ service, which, ho 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 i-roposed increases in salaries, which, ho claimed, were reasonable, as the cost of living had risen during the year. • . A motion was carried that niglitwork should be paid for at an additional rate between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. A proposal from Auckland and Invercargill that overtime should be paid for in cash instead of time off, was rejected. The following remit from the Wellington branch was carried after a lengthy discussion:—“That the Conference congratulates the Minister ol Railways on his decision that officers with services of forty years and over shall he compulsory retired, but urges that in future no exception to the rule be made.”