THE RAILWAY SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 92, 13 January 1920, Page 4

THE RAILWAY SERVICE

OFFICERS' INSTITUTE CONFERENCE. By TeleernDh—Prcm Annotation. Dunedin, January 12. The- annual conference of the Executive Council of the New Zealand Kailway Officers' Institute was commenced this morning, the president (Mr. J. Young) being in the chair. Before the business of the meeting was proceeded with, feeling reference was made to the death since the last meeting of the council of Mr. A. IT. Melor, traffic manager at Greymouth, who was a member of the first Executive Council of the Institute. , . i Mr W 0. Enuis (vice-president) and Mr li. C. Morgan (secretary) were heartily welcomed back after their military service abroad. . The chairman, in opening the proceedings, extended a warm welcome to the delegates and expressed the hone that the deliberations of the counei would he of benefit to the members of the hirst Division of the railway service generallv He remarked that, some of the items set down for discussion were of very great importance, and . the delecrates would be required to give Ihem their most careful 'consideration. Mr. loung touched briefly on the increased cost of livin"; which had pressed so heavily on the members of the institute, in common with the general public, and pointed out that the great increases which had taken place in recent years were undoubtedly due to the large rmautib' nf naper liionev in circulation. I Ins. lie said, applied throughout the whole

! " The' president moved the adoption of the annual renort and balance-sheet, which was carried. The council then proceeded to consider the agenda paper, which was a icngthv document, comprising no fewer than 11.1 from the Superannuated Hailivnvmen's Association for assistance in the war of a bonus was discussed. Tt was decided to sunnort the request „„d to 'forward it to the Minister and o«ncra! Manager of 'Railways for consideration. If was also decided to support the request by deputation at a later (la { e 'long discussion took place on the anomalies appearing in the 1019 Classification list, and considerable dissatisfaction was exnresscd by delegates from nil the branches at the unfair treatment which officers had received, especially offers with Ion?; eervicc, who had for some unaccountable reason suffered rednctions in status, notw, hstand ng he promises made to dcmi at.'nns .tliat the position of officers would !><j ,n 'l ,ro "! • it was promised that class iicntiou would be administered liberollj. this had not been done. The Classification list as issued had caused serious discontent throughout the service, am 11,n manner in which special election |„wl been severelv criticised. Tlie debate is still proceeding.