OF INTEREST TO RAILWAYMEN

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 958, 27 October 1910, Page 3

OF INTEREST TO RAILWAYMEN

A QUESTION OF INCREMENT,

A matter of considerable importance to ■ railwaymen cropped up in the House of Eepresentatives yesterday. Mr. Davey (Christchurch • East) said that it was understood that tho Minister had promised to make up the increment which was.kept back.from engine-drivers' 'and firemen last'year.. Although these men had now been promoted this year, .they had lost the 1 sixpence increment for the twelve months. ! Was it. intended to make up the amount'to the men? ;■ The Hon. J. A. Millar said he' had never promised that the: men would get the increase which was withheld . last year. What he had told tho men was that they would not be any worse off— that was to say, that the- same men would get the promotion in the-following year. The trouble was that the men had been, .fighting for a compulsory 50 per cent in the first grade.' He did.not think ihat they would ever get itJ Mr. Massey: They had it once. 'Mr. Millar: But the House altered it. Mr. Massey: On your motion. Mr. T. E. Taylor: The House did not know what it was doing. ~-.■-. Mr..Millar Said that the revenue.of the country had. at the time .been going back to such an' extent that, .the Government had to withhold increases in all branches. The Railway Executive had agreed that it would be unreasonable to ask for an increase when increases were being withheld in other branches of the service. No officials, except the engine-drivers and firemen, had made any complaint in t matter. If the House gave these men the amount of the increase that was not given last year, it would-have to do the same all round. The whole of the 50 per cent was now filled up.