RAILWAY MEN'S WAGES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1268, 25 October 1911, Page 6

RAILWAY MEN'S WAGES.

« — INCREASES TOTAL £106,000. FURTHER RISES GRANTED, The wages of employees in the State railway system arc to be increased in the aggregate, by .£106,000. This amount includes .£36,0110, representing statutory increments, and the balance of .£70,000 will be absorbed by the increases granted to tho Second Division, which will be paid from .November 1. Amendments to tho Government Railways Bill now before Ihe Jlouso of Representatives were introduced by Governor's message last evening. They provide for increases which are necessary to restore the relative positions of the various classes in the Second Division. Tho minimum pay of guards in both grades and the maximum pay of those in the second grade aro increased by Is. per day. Tho wages of signalmen and storeinen are increased by Is. per day in the minimum of tho first grade, and in both minimum and maximum of the second grade. Niglitwatchmen in tho traffic and stores department are given a rise of 3s. per week. Skilled labourers are to be paid 9s. per day (a rise _of 6d.), storemen (first grade) 10s. (an increaso of Is. 6d.), and second grails 9s. (a rise of Is.). The rise of sixpence per day is to be given to the following employees in the maintenance department:—Labourers (skilled), gangers of all classes, platelayers in relaying gangs, and surfacemen miners. The existing regulation regarding marriage allowance will be amended to increase the minimum rate to X 133 os. Oil. per annum, equivalent to Bs. Gd. per day. At present the. minimum for married men is Bs. 2Jd. per day (.£l3O per annum).