RAILWAY DEPARTMENTS' ROYAL LOYALTY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 28, 27 October 1917, Page 6

RAILWAY DEPARTMENTS' ROYAL LOYALTY

Sir,—Tho advent of the much-belated D 3 Classification List, which was presented to Parliament last week, Bhows conclusively how 'he Railway Department, in its ever eminent wise counsel, considers it advisable to reward the Royalty of tho 6taff, as is evidenced by the large number of men who have not received promotion. Mind you, scale increases are entirely separate from "promotion." First of all, let me say that the D 3 is always presented in the dying hours of tho session designedly, notwithstanding any enunciation that may be expounded to tho contrary by tha powars that be, for the unsophisticated public, and much more so politician. Just as the Department runs a train in two sections for the Hawko's Bay show, run an empty train to Trentham to bring back passengers from the races, a relief mail train to Paekakariki, and then audaciously exclaims that, no extra facilities have been granted. You have, together with other papers, declared on behalf of tho Minister of Railways and Genoral Manager that it was tho loyalty of the staff that enabled a 5 per cent, return, but this kind of "tripe" may be dished up to gull a certain class, but it will not satisfy the appetite of tho conscientious and ambitious worker desiring to make his way in the Service. For years past the Railway Service was looked upon as being illegitimate to the Civil Service, and after years of hard fighting the pareoiage has recently been acknowledged, but unfortuuately the individual who controls staff I matters desires that instead of tho Railway Service being brought up in keoping with its elder relatives, it should drag on. as tho fostered child. It is the despotism of one man that is causing a disgruntled Service, and this word spells "Deeply eradicating staff proficiency of truly important State machine," for with such niggardly treatment at a limo when tho loyalty of the staff is appraised from Iho highest to tho lowest, is assured to increase the present discontent existing in tho Service, instead of alleviating it. ' The present D 3 is undoubtedly tho pre- ' mier publication as regards lack of pro- ] motion for the staff, and in consequence j tho Press will bo inundated with loud ! and'varied .protests from staff, as a lino ' of action in this direction has been de- ' cided upon.—l am, etc., ] LOYAL RAILWAY. 1