Railway Commissioners.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6885, 21 June 1890, Page 3

Railway Commissioners.

WELLINGTON, June 21. The Railway Commissioners met the Railway Employees' Society and delegates again this morning. Mr Maxwell reviewed the present regulations regarding time and pay, remarking that they had now been in force over ten years, and great care had been exercised in drawing them up. Mr Owen, Baid that, since he had joined the service in 1871, the rate of pay had receded greatly, and even during the last ten years it had been cub down, Mr Hoban pointed out that Mr M'Kerrow had admitted that the eight hours' system could be rigidly adhered to, bub at a cost; and that was what the Executive wasted. Mr Winter said he had no doubt that great care had been bestowed in drawing up the regulations, but it had all been in one direction, viz., to get the largest amount of work at the smallest possible coat. It was this gradual modulation from a higher to a lower standard that the Executive objected to. [ Mr Hoban thought the Commissioners' replies were scarcely definite enough on the boy labour question. Would the Comj missioners undertake not to engage any \ more apprentices for a certain period. Mr M'Kerrow said they could scarcely do that, but they would agree to work the various departments co as to ultimately bring the number down to the proportion requested by the Executive. Mr Hoban also objected to the intention of the Commissioners to regulate the supply of cadets in proportion to the whole traffic ; holding that a certain class of labour, such as porters, should not be taken into account, as cadets were nob trained to become porters. Mr Winter severely criticised the vagueness of the replies given by the Commissioners, and expressed the opinion that they left themselves too many loop-holes for 6scape. Besides, many years might elapse before the proposed alterations could be finally effected. j Mr M'Kerrow said the Commissioners had already made a start to limit the supply of boys, and only yesterday had refused very urgent requests for more apprentices, _ Mr Elvines suggested that the Commissioners should guarantee not to engage any more boys for two years. That would have the effect of keeping the boy labour down to a fair proportion. Mr Eotheram did not think it was practicable to make any such agreement. A guarantee for four years would be much nearer the mark. Mr Elvines: "Well, if you cannot do that, will you agree to take boya out of the shops that are 'flooded 1 and pub them in shops that are under the proportion of one boy to three men." Mr M'Kerrow thought this a very reasonable request, and said the Commissioners would take steps to haveifc put into force. After considerable discussion the Commissioners agreed that after a cadet had served six years he should, if capable, be promoted to a clerkship. # Mr Owen remarked that by imposing sixty hours on the locomotive men the Commissioners had dealt very hardly with them. Mr M'Kerrow explained how the system was an improvement on the old plan of counting ia standing time. Mr Winter said it was no use arguing the point. The men had determined on forty-eight hours and the Commissioners had fixed sixty honra, and thc-o the matter stood : the delegates were hot empowered to come to a compromise. At one o'clock the Conference was adjourned till three.