D.—l 7

1888. NEW ZEALAND.

SCALE OF PAY FOR WORKING-RAILWAY STAFF.

Laid on the Table by the Hon. Mr. Mitchelson, with the Leave of the House.

The following scale of pay for the working-railway staff will apply to all employes engaged after the 23rd May, 1881, at which date it was introduced. It will not be applied to reduce the pay of those now paid above the scale. Pay below the scale w Till be arranged to work up to it gradually. It will not be applied to cancel privileges secured under previous arrangements. The classification of the present employes is not necessarily decided by the rates of pay received at the date hereof. Regular increases are to date from the end of the four-weekly period preceding the quarter-day next following the date of appointment last entered upon. Tbafpic Department. Stationmasters. —Stationmasters must be persons trained to a knowledge of station accounts, and having a thorough acquaintance with the duties laid down in the rules and regulations. Promotions will be made from the juniors among the traffic employes, and from lower to higher classes, according to the efficiency and good conduct of the officers, as vacancies occur. Stationmasters will be paid at the rate of —Sixth class, £130 per annum; fifth class, £140 per annum ; fourth class, £150 per annum ; third class, £175 per annum; second class, £200 per annum; first class, £250 per annum. After ten years' service as First-class Stationinaster the pay to be £275 per year, and after fifteen years £300. Where no house is provided, house-allowance at the rate of £50 per year will be made to First- and Second-class Stationmasters, and £25 per year to others. Porters in charge of stations will be paid £2 Bs. per week, with house-allowance of 9s. 6d. per week where no house is provided. Stationmasters may be called upon to perform postal and telegraph duties in addition to the railway work ; in such cases the pay will be regulated according to circumstances. Outdoor Staff. —Wharfingers will rank as Stationmasters. Coaching and goods foremen will be paid from 10s. to 12s. per day. Guards, first class, will be paid—First year, 9s. per day ; second year, 9s. 6d. per day ; after seven years' service, 10s. per day. Guards (second class) and brakesmen will be paid —First year, Bs. per day; second year, Bs. 6d. per day. Increases of pay to guards will depend upon good conduct and the careful and complete execution of the duties assigned to them. Increases are iiable to be disallowed on account of insubordination, neglect, or incompetence. Promotions will be made from second to first class, according to efficiency and good conduct, as vacancies occur. Guards will be selected from the class of porters and shunters. Horse-drivers, shunters, signalmen, and storemen will be paid—Fourth class, 7s. per day ; third class, 7s. 6d. per day; second class, Bs. per day; first class, Bs. 6d. per day; head shunters and storemen, 10s. per day. Porters will be paid—Second class, first year, 6s. 6d. per day; first class, first year 7s. per day, second year 7s. 6d. per day. Lad-porters not under sixteen years of age will be employed. They will be paid 3s. per day for the first year, increasing Is. per day each year. They will rank as porters after the third year. Increases of pay depend upon good conduct and careful attention to duties. Increases are liable to be disallowed for insubordination, neglect, or incompetence. Steam-crane drivers will be paid as locomotive firemen. Watchmen will be paid £2 2s. per week. Gatekeepers will be paid from £1 10s. to £1 16s. per week. Labourers will be paid 6s. 6d. per day. No one whose age exceeds thirty-five years, or who is unable to read and write, will be admitted into this department. Locomotive Department. Fitters, turners, and other tradesmen will be paid from Bs. to 10s. 6d. per day. Shop-foremen, 11s. to 15s. per day. Machinists, strikers, and sailmakers, 7s. to Bs. per day. Apprentices will be taken into the Government shops, not under fourteen years of age, and not over seventeen years : Bates of pay —First year, ss. per week; second year, 7s. per week ; third year, 9s. per week; fourth year, 12s. per week; fifth year, 15s. per week; sixth year, 18s. per week; seventh year, £1 Is. per week. Any apprentice who before the age of eighteen shall pass the junior Civil Service Examination, and before the age of twenty shall pass the senior examination, shall, so far as opportunities admit, be taught the business of a mechanical engineer. Cleaners. —Young men not under seventeen years of age and not over twenty-two years may be taken on as " cleaners." Cleaners will be paid—First year, ss. 6d. per day; second year, 6s. per day ; third year, 6s. 6d. per day ; fourth year, 7s. per day. Cleaners will be promoted to firemen, according to efficiency and good conduct, as vacancies occur.