RAILWAY OFFICERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16545, 14 July 1925, Page 5

RAILWAY OFFICERS.

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

GRADING AND SALARIES

(By Telegraph.—Press Association. ) WELLINGTON. Monday.

The annual conference of the Railway Officers' Institute continued its sittings to-day, the president, Mr J. R. Robertson, presiding. It was decided to press for the adoption of the ecale of salaries asked for in February, 1024. The maximum ■of each grade is as follows, the present maximum being shown in parentheses:—Grade 1, £660 (£615); grade 2, £560 (£515); grade 3, £5lO (£170) ; grade 4, £460 (-£425); grade 5, £4lO (£380) ; grade 6, £3GO (£335) ; grade 7, £330 (£295). The conference decided that when a member is specifically brought on duty on Good Friday or Christmas Day or has to " stand by " on Sunday he shall be deemed to have worked not less than four hours. It was also decided to ask for an additional statutory holiday in lieu of Dominion Day, which is no longer a statutory holiday. It was agreed that New Lynn, Manurewa, Paerata, Waharoa and Raurimu should be officered instead of being tablet stations as at present.

Other decisions were: That recommended members in grade 7 be promoted to grade 6 on completion of 14 years in the first division if promotion has not been reached prior to completion of that period; that the Railway Board be asked to discuss with the conference the methods employed by the administrative officers at the round-table conference in connection with the yearly staff review. A long discussion took place in connection with." the appointment of outsiders to positions which could be ably filled by New Zealand-trained men." It was decided to take action in regard to certain instances that were mentioned.

It was agreed that the goods foremen at Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Auckland, Palmcrston North, Greymouth, Wellington and Frankton Junction should be granted a higher grading. The widows' pensions scheme drafted by the executive committee was adopted and it was decided to submit the matter to branches in order to ascertain what support such a proposal would receive.

Various other matters concerning conditions and salaries were also dealt with.