CONFERENCE OF RAILWAY DELEGATES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11847, 20 July 1893, Page 2

CONFERENCE OF RAILWAY DELEGATES.

Further Consideration of the Insurance Bill. [Pee Press Association.] Wellington, Jult 19. At the Bailway Insurance Conference the deputation appointed to wait on the Commissioners to obtain information a 6 to the bearing of Clause 5, sub-section C, on the accident and sick pay now granted to railway employes under the rules and regulations of the service, reported that the Commissioners had promised to extend the present privileges respecting sick pay to all employes, and hid stated that if this clause were deleted it would be equivalent to reducing the retiring age to 60 yeara at the present contribution. It was therefore resolved that this clause be deleted from the Bill, and that a letter be sent to the Commissionera thanking them for the very valuable concession regarding sick pay which they have promised. As to Clause 6, sub-section 2, it waß resolved,- " That two separate tables of contributions be prepared, one providing for a retiring allowance and one for an endowment policy, any employe to be allowed, to contribute to either benefit or' both, contributions lo be reduced to the lowest possible limit." It was agreed that six days constitute a week. Clause 6, subsection 5: it was resolved, "That the Government be asked to subsidise a fund to the extent of not less than 25 pßr cent of the total contributions of the employes." Clauses 7 and 8 were approved. Clause 9 was recommended to be amended so as to reduce the age of retirement to 60 years, and so that it be at the option of the employe whether he retire at that age or not. It was also decided to add another clause providing for the retirement at the age of 55 years of any employe who desired to do so by paying a larger contribution, and that in drafting the Bill, the Commissionera be asked to furnish tables showing the contributions which would have to be paid in each caee, Clause 10, sub-sections 1 and 2, were approved, with the exception of the age, reading 60 instead of 65 years, A further racommendation was made providing that the employes, who so desire, could, by paying an increased contribution, provide for a half pay, superannuation allowance. It was resolved "That Clause 2,relating to sick allowance, be cancelled, and that Clause 12 be made to read in conformity with Clause 6, subsection A, and that provisions re bonus, under Clause 22, be inserted. Clausen 13 and 15 were approved and Clause 14 cancelled, as it was considered unfair that an employe should be deprived of the benefit to which he is justly entitled by virtue of having paid his contributions to secure it. The Conference then adjourned until to-morrow. Later. The following is the text of the letter forwarded to the Eailway Commissioners by the Eailway Employe's Conference : — " Gentlemen, the delegates appointed by the Eailway employe's to the Conference now being held in Wellington, desire to thank you for the kind manner in which you raceived their deputation this morning, also for the concession that you have promised them - viz, That should subsection C of Clause 6, of the Eailway Employe's Insuranco Bill, as proposed, be deleted and the Bill thereafter become law, the present regulations regarding sick and accident pay will bu extended to all employes.