RAILWAY REPORT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 217, 14 September 1931, Page 6

RAILWAY REPORT

PRAISE FOR THE BOARD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VIEW WELLINGTON, Sept 12. Complete, approval of the recommcn* dations of the Railway Board that six of the seven railway lines at present und *r construction in New Zealand be stopped immediately is expressed by the Assoctlod Ch iniberb of Commerce of New Zealand. The report of the Railway Board was ecnsk.iTcd at a meeting yesterday of the executive of the association, subae« U'lenr. H which th-* vie.'president. Afr C. M Bowdon slated in an interview with a Post representative that his executive fully endorsed the recommendations of the Railway Board, which were in acccrdanee with tho views of the eusoc alien on railway construction at the present time. Tho association ha i id-*: t’fied itself with the question of railways in no uncertain fashion. be:rg icsponsiblc for a series of arH<:l«s v.licL had been punlished in the Press in support of tho report of th.» L'n : i,.ay Commission, and it was a m.C*. r of sausfacii'.n to tho association v\Leti the control of tho railways was nan h» l o'er to a board. The association also broi.ght under the notice of the Primo Minister a resolution carried at its 1930 conference, expressing alarm at the serious . increase in the bu/lec of Ihe railwayt’v on the Consoli<la f Fi nd. which in- 1 crease would ccitniulv be ftill further accentuated with the compction of a number of line” .er cci struetion—nearly all of which chould never ha • been started.

“The attitude of 'he Associated Chamhbcrs of Commerce on the matter of railway construction is the attitude of businessmen who xiev? thr matter as they view similar matte, s of national importance from the commcrc’al viewpoint and no other,’ said Mr Bowden. “It is not good business to continue tho construction of railway lines in New Zealand at the present time of financial stress, therefore the work sliould be stopped. Tho Railway Board is courageous in its recommendations, but wise.”

ECONOMIES IN SERVICE NO WHOLESALE DISMISSALS PROPOSALS SUMMARISED WELLINGTON, Sept. 12. A Rood deal of concern has bcci caused amongst member of the railway service through current rumours that widespread staff reductions arc to be made by tho Railway Board, but it is officialy ascertained that tho position is not as serious as it has been made • out to be, though it is admitted that important economies arc in imediate prospect. Wholesale dismissals, however, are not involved. Tho General Manager of Railways (Mr H, H. Sterling) has infbrmed a’l the railwavs organsiations of tho proposals, and has diseased them with the official representatives of the stalls, and the whole of tho proposed economies as affecting al sections of the staff are published herewith. A certain number of permanent employees of over 30 years’ service will be retired under section J 4 of tho Finance Act, 1931. Whore there is a surplus of permanent mon in any of tho workshops for whom work cannot be found on tho \>ot. a certain number of men may be transferred to other workshops. Tho men so transferred will be unmarried men. Casuals may be paid off to make room for them. Transfers from shop to shop will b« made as an emergency step only, and will be kept down to an absolute minimum. It is not intended to transfer married men, but it may occur that there is a surplus of married men in some craft, necessitating reductions in tho numbers in that craft. Preference will be given to them in nriy other trades where they can bo suitably employed. For instance, if a permanent blacksmith is not required, but th ro is a casual striker employed, tho perman- A ent blacksmith will bo given preference for the position of striker.

Permanent employees will be given preference for retention in tho service over all casuals, but their standard ot work will have to meet the requirements of the department, otherwise they will be linble to be paid off for inefficiency. Regarding the meal allowance, it will no longer be considered a time allowance, but where an employee is on duty continuously -for eleven hours or more and purchases a meal ho will receive the allowance for tho ioal. So far as departmental holidays are concerned, special rates of pay, with a abolished, and single rates of par, with nboished. and single rates of pay, with a day added to the annual leave, will be substituted. Wage employees of the stores branch are to have their hours reduced from 48 to 44 per week. This bri igs these employees into line with the workshops employees, with whom tho stores employees work in closo proximity. The payment of rate and a’quarter t > engine cleaners for work done at night is being discontinued. In future cleaners will bo paid the ordinary rate onlv for such work. A Tho granting of overtime relief to 1 members of the salaried staff f ur hour» worked in excess of 48 in each week it also being discontinued, and the ar rangement previously in force of granting Home measure <>f relief to member, of tho salaried staff only where there is a long spread of hours nd the work i: intensive is being reintroduced. A reduction is also being made in the time allowance to guards in connection with correspondence.