DISCONTENTED RAILWAY MEN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2187, 17 September 1907, Page 2

DISCONTENTED RAILWAY MEN.

A NUMBER OF GRIEVANCES. Press Association. DUNEDIN, September 16. Inquiries made by a “Times” reporter 6how that there is a good deal of discontent among Otago railway, servants in regard to working conditions, the grievances being in connection with smallness of pay, slowness of promotion, inadequate leave of Absence, and non-payment of overtime in the first division. The men complain that promotion in the railway service is less rapid than in the Postal Department, while they hold that the responsibility is greater. It is claimed that a stationmaster ill cliargo of a combined railway station and post office lias received a smaller remuneration than a postmaster has received in a post office alone when the two departments were separate. In regard to the eighthours day the men recognise the difficulty in reducing the hours at some stations, hut they consider that in view of increased train services and concessions to the public they have not received the pay that they should get. The second division has, it is said, been granted concessions to the extent of £BO,OOO, and the first division consider they should get similar concessions. Resignations on this section have not been numerous, hut it is held Shat tho boys entering the service are not so good as formerly.