RAILWAY MATTERS IN THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1222, 2 September 1911, Page 14

RAILWAY MATTERS IN THE HOUSE.

Si —X. notice in The Dominion to-day (August !)UJ a statement made by tho iion. J. A. Millar in the ilousc, in replying to criticisms on railway conditions and wages. "That he was ■ prepared to pay higner wages. to.hoiliibC meif.'*V.".A member queried: "What do you mean?" but was not successful in eliciting tfn explanation. what do« tUo honourable gentleman mean? Ilia statement sttuck me, as it undoubtedly would any qtlgr member of the-service, on reading "iltp as being intended for a rellection on tlie honesty of tiio railway men, especially those in positions of trust. ' 'Vow I icgard myself as a member in 'whom the Department has to place a certain amount of confidence, .and which I am proud. 1 to state I luvvo never yet abused. I therefore feel very keenly the remark of btfr Minister. Ko one realises more than I do the fact that Jill railway men aro not honest. Somo of them have done things which they liavi been punished for, and for which they no doubt feci ashamed; but we nec-d'not cpnlino our strictures to the railway service. In nil other largo Departments, both public ampjpiivate, we liavc daily recoris of dishonesty, and I think in thi.s matter Iho railways will compare more than favourably. No one knows better than Mr. Millar that it is a matter of impossibility to have a thoroughly honest stair in such a large Department as the railways. I am not saying this with tho object of condoning an oll'cnce against honesty, but-merely to impress on the Minister tho necessity of having a little feeling for those members who are honestly endeavouring to do their duty towards the Department, and I think ho will agree tliey form a largo percentage of the service. There are black sheep in every 'Unci:, but they are no blacker in the railways than outside it. If he is prepared to pay higher wages to honest men, I would ask him how he proposes to start. Will he grant 1110 2s. per day extra if-1 can prodnco l»na fides of my unwavering honesty: If so, I am prepared to submit evidence to the complete satisfaction ot' the most conscientious officer in the service. I am prepared to do this without even the promise of a riso in wages, if only to prove to him that one member at least is honest. I have felt 011 numerous occasions during tho courso of my duty in dealing with the public that a railway man's character is not worth much from tho p'ublic noint of view. Of courso this becomes apparent only_ when vou are forced to assort your position on behalf of tho Department. I remember

one occasion when I had to book a firstclass lady passenger, who had neglected to purchase a ticket at the oilice. She became very wroth when I requested, in addition to''tho faro (!)d.) sixpence for booking fee.- She said: "I suppese that gees into your pocket for your trouble." After issuing the ticket and showing it to her I said: "Jiadara, I consider jour lemark totally uncalled for. How would you like to he'iir a lady talk to your son in that manner; and please remember that if I anv only a. servant of the Department, I have jiist. as sensitive feelings as you have." Now, sir, just a word for the overworked guards. It is on record thatresponsible officers of tho Department have admitted that they aro practically in the hands of the guards, who are responsible for collecting a large proportion of the passenger revenue. Let. tho Minister recognise their services (apart altogether from the fact that one or two of them have proved dishonest) by bettering their position, and making it such that men will bo encouraged to do their utmost for tho Department. Let him drop at onco the questionable tactics that he has allowed to be pursued of late in endeavouring to prove that this deserving body of men are not doing their duty, and, worse than all, that they aro dishonest.—l am, etc., P. 9.