FULL TRAMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 276, 10 August 1918, Page 8

FULL TRAMS

A MEASURE OF RELIEF

HOURS IN GOVERNMENT f OFFICES

CHANGE TO BE MADE

"It has been resolved that the hours of the Public Service in Wellington shall be altered as follows from Tuesday noxt, August 13," .said the Minister of Internal Affairs (Air. 1 .Ruosellj' yesterday. "The various Departments will begin work at 8.30 a.m., and will close at 4.30 p.m., instead of us hitherto-from 'J a.m. to 5 p.m. The dinner homr will in future be from 12.30 to 1.3(1 p.m. "This nltoratioii is necessary to enable tlio City Council to copo with the tramway traffic. A conference was held consisting of tho Goncral Manager of Kailways, the City Engineer, the Secretary of Iho Post and Telegraph Department,' the manager .of the i'erry Company, the Government Printer, and the Public Service Commissioner. To assist the City Council in working tho trams it is considered that this change should ibe made, thus enabling a large number of .people under Government control, usually curried at 5 p.m., to be forwarded to their homes at nn earlier hour, Tho confavence was of opinion that it would bo impossible to arrange for a combination of privato offices throughout the city which would have the sanio effect. * \ "Information before me shows that of 1902 officers affected only 270 use tho trains. The Government Printing Office is not included in tha alterations ns 421 employees in that establishment work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and only 48 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The officers of tho Post and Telegraph Department are also excluded from tho scheme, as that Department had already made arrangements for about 300 members of their staff censing duty at 4.80 p.m. Certain of these come on duty at 8.30 a.m., while tho remainder take half an hour for lunch , instead of an 'hour. "Tho following nro tho residences of the 1903 officers of tho Publio Service:— Wndostown, 7G; Knrori, 189; Brooklyn, 167; Seatoun, 30; Miraraar, 98; Lyallßay, 112; Island Bay, 108; Newtown, 251; Oriental Bay. 107; Thorndon Quay, 5.1; Aro Street, 88; Wallace Street, 101; IvilMrnie, 92; Hataitai, 25; Courtonay Place to" Government Buildings, 58; per Hutt train, 162; per Johnsonville (u-ain, 108; per ferry eteamer, 41. The whole of the above aro at present employed-from 9 a.m. ,to 5 'p.m. In addition there are 5G officers employed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and for other hours of the day 20 offiCe 'The Hon. Mr. Hemes has arranged to regulate the train services to meet tho alterations arranged."