"SERIOUSLY PERTURBED,"

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12776, 21 October 1919, Page 5

"SERIOUSLY PERTURBED,"

RAILWAYMEN AND CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM.

SALARY INCREASES CRITICISED.

[FsOil Ocr CoHRMPONSKirr.]

WELLINGTON, October 20,

Raihvaymen are seriously perturbed over the proposed changes in the classification system embodied in tho Government Railways Act Amendment Bill. The position is so acute that the executive council of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants held a special sitting during the week-eudj and it is evident that the agreement arrived at a few months ago, to flowing lengthy negotiations, will be reopened, as the men consider the railway management guilty of a breach of faith in me manner in which it proposes to amend the ciassmcation system.

Strong exception is taken to the proposal that any member may be promoted to any position by the General Manager it he is of opinion that the particular individual has special merit or ability. Officers of the Amalgamated Society declare that the classification system was built up carefully to avoid favouritism in the service, but the General Manager now proposes the re-introduction of this. Classification properly administered gives every opportunity for the advancement of capable men. There is in practice no chance of a successful appeal acainst the General Manager’s arbitrary decision under this new clause, as the Minister’s veto is exercised under the advice of the General Manager. Whilst the Railway Society recognises that the present classification system has . defects, its officers state that they are prepared to consider reasonable proposals for improving the efficiency of the service, but they resent the introduction of what they term a revolutionary change, without consulting the organisations concerned.

As a salaries contrast it is pointed out that the Bill makes provision for the transfer of war bonuses to wages, representing £45 per annum, which is not regarded as an increase, for the reason that no change in wages had taken jdace for three years prior to the war. Tho men’s officials consider it particularly inappropriate at a time when they have documentary proof that married men of the second division are not receiving enough to pay their'way, that the Department should provide of £250 a year and in one c £550. These increases to high officials, most of whom are eligible to retire, constitutes a gift of £2OO per annum extra superannuation to men already entitled to retire on £4OO to £SOO, although the General Manager has just had to report to Parliament that the fund is seriously overloaded and requires actuarial investigation, an immediate substantial -increase in the Government subsidy.. The result of these proposals in the

Bill is that the Amalcareatefl Society of Railway Sen-ants’ executive will irf before the Railways Committee to .strenuously oppose the passing of the measure in its present shape.