CONFERENCE OF RAILWAY SERVANTS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11848, 24 July 1893, Page 2

CONFERENCE OF RAILWAY SERVANTS.

The Commissioners Interviewed. (Per Prkbs Association). Wellington, July 22. A deputation from the Kail way Conference waited on Ihe Commissioners yesterday. Mr McKerrow said the Commissioners had very carefully considered the suggestions submitted by the delegates, and Mr Maxwell would give a reply to each in detail. Mr Maxwoll stated that, generally, young employe were on a different basis in respect to the Bill than older employes. Young entrants into the service would pay a reasonable contribu. tion for benefits granted, but any eraployo over 20 years of age was getting considerable advantages, increasing according to age of employe. For example, in the case of a man aged 40, his contributions were exactly one half what they would be at that age for tho same benefits in any insurance office. Respecting the alteration to Section 2, it was unnecessary that intermittent or continuous service would, under the present clause, be counted ; that this, men who were out on strike, or who, when work was slack, were temporarily discharged, would have all their previous time counted in compulsory allowances. Respecting Section 5, sub-Section A, the proposal would ssriously affect the financial position, and was not advisable. Sick pay, — the Commissioners were prepared, if this Bill became law, to extend the existing privileges regarding sick pay to all employes, Section fi, sub-Section 2.— they were prepared to grant as follows : — Any employe, who has an increased policy to the amount of 12 month's pay, may contribute for retiring allowance | only. Respecting the contribution of 25 per cent., Mr Maxwell pointed out that I the present employes would receive considerable advantages, and the Commissioners could not recommend this. They were prepared to accept the proposal to reduce the retiring age to 60 years, particularly seeing that the Civil Service Bill provided for retiring at that age. They could not accept the proposal to retire at 55. The proposal to allow .present employes to contribute for increased benefits was objectionable, but for men newly joiniDg it might be desireible. They could not accept the proposal to strike out Clause 14, Section 12. The proposals were thought to be unnecessary : lie Board of Advice, the elimination cf sick pay from the Bill did away with the necessity for many rules and regulations, and he thought the Board quite unnecessary. Accounts would be published annually, therefore they would be available to all. <s it was unlikely there would be any bonus, but quite the opposite for a long time to come, the proposals to allow contributors to elect how their bonuses may be dealt with was unnecessary. The proposals to allow contributors leaving the service to keep their benefits was objectionable. The Conference meets again to-day to consider the Commissioner's reply. Later. The Eailway Conference assembled at 9 a.m. and considered the reply of the Commissioners to the delegates on tho previous day. The delegates met the Commissioners at 10 a.m. The following is the result of the interview: —The Commissioners stated that in addition to the concessions granted yesteiday they were prepared to concede the, striking out of Clause 14, that they would agree to a Board of Advice in a modified form and would print the amended Bill in accordance with the concessions granted by them The Conference then re-assemblod* and considered the amendment seriatim respecting Clause 3. [t was agreed to Ml in with the Commissioners' suggestion that no alteration was necessary. Clause 6 sub-section A : It was agreed to confirm the amendment proposed by the Conference. Clause 9: It was agresd that the amendment proposed be conconfirmed, with this addition : " That if it cannot ba granted to the present employes such provision should be made for I new entrants into the services." A letter -was received from the Com. missioners stating that they had arranged with the Premier to meet a deputation from the Conference at 10.30 a.m. on Monday. The delegates will present a petition to tho Premier asking the Go. vernment to take charge of the Railway Employe's' Insurance Bill this session, al6o asking tho Government to take into consideration the Railway Employes' Insurance Bill as prepared by the Railway Commissioners and the various amendments suggested thereto. At an interview between the Railway Commissioners and the railway delegates to-day the Secretary of the Eailway Insurance Conference made a statement with regard to an assertion that had been made in somo quarters thai the delegates did not represent the employes. He pointed out that the representative from Auckland was a yard foreman, while the delegates from Napier, Hawera, Palmerston North, and \vanganui were stationmasters ; Wellington sent a clerk, stationmaster, and a fitter from the workshops ; Chvistchurch, an inspector and carpenter ; Timaru, a clerk; Oamaru, signalman; Dunedin, stororaan, guard, and night foreman in locomotive sheds ; and In"ercargill a clerk. Several of the delegates were members of the Eailway Union, and one was secretary of a branch. All had been elected either at public meetings of emploji'i hold in the chief centres of their respective districts or by committees elected by such public meetings with power to do their utmost, to advance the insurance proposals. In only three instances, viz., Christchurch, Dunedin, and Palmerston North, had the latter mode of election been adopted, all the others having been elected at pnblic meetings which all employes were invited to attend. Several sections, viz., Greymouth, Weatport, Nelson, and WhangKrei, were represented by deputy, it boing inconvenient far them to send anyone to the Conference. On the delegates ariiving in Wellington it was found that the men at tho Petone shops and others employed in Wellington were unrepresented, and a delegate was accordingly elected at a large meeting of employes. The delegates did not pretend to represent those who were entirely opposed to the insurance scheme, but they did claim to represent those who saw the urgent need for it, and they contended that a large majority of railwaymen recognised tho necessity and weie in sympathy with the movement and with the objects of the Conference, The Secretary pointed out that the hopes of the men generally from Auckland to tho Bluff wore centred on the results of the Conference, and it was to be regretted that a few o^noneuts to the scheme should endeavo r to disparage the efforts of the their fuliotr emcloyos in a work which should produce great results. He also emphasised tho fact that no employe would be compelled to contribute under tho Bill if it became law. Latest. The Railway Insurance Conference resumed at 2 p.m , when the consideration of the clauses nf the Bill seriatim was continued. Clause G Section 2 : It was agreed that the amendment bo rescinded and a new clause as proposed by the Commissioners, viz., " Jhat any person who in terms of Section 3 is a permanent employe and who has his life insurod in some approved office for an amount not loss than 12 months' salary at his then rate of pay may be relieved of a proportion of his contribution to tho insurance fund in respect of the amount payable at his death, such amount to bo determined by the authorities having charge of the railways for tho time bemc and no amount shall be payable at death from tho insur. aneo fund on account of such employe," be accepted. Clause U, Section 3 : The proposed amendment was confirmed. Clause 10 : The proposed amendment was confirmed, with tli6 addition that if the Government caunot grant it to the present employes it be granted to future employes. Clause 11: It was agreed that the proposed amendment be struck out. Clause 18 : It wad agreed to accept the Commissioners' proposal re Board of Advice. Clause 19: It was agreed that as the amendment of this clause will be given effect by the authorities publishing a return in the anmial report no further action will be necessary. Clause 22 : The proposed amendments were confirmed. It was resolved that the amendment re quinquennial investigation be rescinded, but that the amendment providing for continuing in the funds after leaving the service bo confirmed, Tha Conference adjourned till 9 a.m. on Monday.