THE COMMISSIONERS' PROPOSALS.

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

THE COMMISSIONERS' PROPOSALS.

The New Regulations. The following are the details of the Eailway Commissioners' boy-labour ememployment. Boys and apprentices in shops to approximate gradually to the proposals made. The number prescribed by the Association for the Way and Works Department are too many ; their adoption would displace a large number of men. The Commissioners do not propose to exceed the present proportion materially for the traffic and general service. The number of cadets and lads should remain approximately at the present proportion, which is somewhat below the proportion assigned by the Association. This number is reasonably sufficient to fill vacancies with trained hands as they occur. Eight hours continuous work is to constitute a day's work as at present, intermittent services to be treated as the case may require. The following modified rules are being adopted :— WOBKING HOTIBS. Workmen are required to work eight hours a day, or forty-eight hours a week, for the authorised daily wages. The regular hours of work are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on working days, with one hour off. Extra pay will be allowed labourers and tradesmen for time worked in excess of eight hours a day, subject to such regulations as may be from time to time issued. Locomotive running — Sixty hours to count as one week's work for the driver or fireman. Overtime to be counted at the rate of time and a quarter. Traffic employees generally will be required to work all trains on the advertised time-table without allowance for overtime; but as far as possible duties to be arranged to avoid overtime. Sixty

hours to count as one week's work foi guards; overtime to be counted at the rate of time and a quarter. General /half-pay to be allowed to employees suffering from an accident when on duty from causes beyond their own control, for the first three monthß, and quarter pay for additional three months as far as can be arranged consistently with economy and public convenience. In the _ case of employees generally, working time is not to exceed eight hours a day, or forty-eight hours a week of six working days. Drivers, firemen, and guards will have the whole time counted from their first coming on duty until finally leaving, without deducting for dinner hour, except in cases where they are standing for more than three hours at a spell which w>H not be counted. I'rom thiß it will be seen that allowance is made for standing time, and the objection strongly stated by the Association to a local officer fixing the time allowed 'is removed. The Commissioners will restrict all excessive hours of working, employing extra hands as a rule in preference. Workmen, as a general rule, cannot be paid for time going to or coming from their work, but in extreme and exceptional cases special allowance will be made according to the merits of the case. Where piecework is considered desirable the pay will not be less than the ordinary wages rate, but workmen will be allowed to earn up to a rate and a quarter. In a general way piecework will be restricted, the Commissioners, using the system only where they think circumstances iustifyit. The age for cleaners to enter will be from eighteen years to twenty-one years ; wages to be 7s a day at twenty-two years. The Commissioners have resolved to make the following material concessions to the demands of the employees:— (l) By restricting boy labour in shops. (2) Giving extra pay for guards' overtime. (3) By abandoning the rule which leaves the local officer to fix the working time and by allowing standing time up to three hourn at a spell to count for working time in the case of drivers, firemen and guards, without a deduction for the dinner hour. (4) Restricting excessive hours. (5) Abating piece work as a rule. (6) Raising the age for cleaners to enter. But they cannot undertake to treat persons engaged on intermittent services on the same basis as those on continuous work; the latter work on the eight hour syßtein, the former must have their duties regulated according to services. The adoption of eight hours a day for intermittent workers, as suggested, while costing the Colony probably a-year, would also in many instances give employees on the lightest and least responsible duty the highest wage. DUNEDIN, June 21. The Trades and Labour Council have sent JEIO to the P«tone operatives.