"FREE TRIPS''

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 125, 24 November 1930, Page 8

"FREE TRIPS''

Several correspondents ■write to "The Post" in reference to' "Disgusted's" icomplaint of the free trip concessions given to railway employees. * "Argumentum ad crumenam" supports "Disgusted," and considers it is no wonder that.the apprentice has to pay extra for his concession ticket when the employees receive such concessions ."A Working Youth" fails to understand why the railway employees should have concessions when they are earning as much as, if not more than, other workers who do the same work. If the Minister of Railways would' look into this he would find a source of revenue that would bring his deficiency down. 'fJust a Girl" defends the concession as one fairly given to employees, many of whom have to live in isolated places where there are no shops or similar conveniences. "Railway Employee's Wife" states that the raihvaymen would readily forfeit privilege tickets and free passes if they were granted an extra £25 a year in wages, which outside tradesmen draw. The corre> spondent asks if "Disgusted" is prepared to make up the two cuts that have been made in railway pay. F. Prescott maintains that the travelling concession is similar to the reduction obtained by workers when they purchase goods.from their own employers. 'Is not the railway employee entitled to a reduction on what he purchases from his employer?" "Be Just" writes:—"l-think I am right in saying that every reputable firm allows its employees substantial rebates on purchases made from the firm. Now the railways ' sell conveyance. Why refuse the railwayman the right to a concession on his purchases? He has to pay in full for everything else he buys. < It is not the employees' fault if the firm is not paying. Why penalise ,the railwayman for what is largely the fault of the general public? Everything is not beer and skittles in the life of a railwayman. He is liable to be called out at all hours of the night; he is very often obliged to work all night; and he is working hardest when everyone else is holiday-making. . . It is realised that there are many men in a worse position, and at the present time there is very little complaint. At the same time, if it were not for the reduced fares and annual free passes, there would be few days to town or holi' days, for the railway porter. And surely a man who works more than half his time while others are, sleeping is entitled to a break now and again."