RAILWAY ENQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1920, Page 2

RAILWAY ENQUIRY

QUESTION. OF' WAGES. IFER PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.. WELLINGTON, Jan. 26. The Railway .Inquiry Board resumed its sitting to-day. Mr R. Hampton (Advocate for the ‘Railway Servants) said it would be preferable for the servants if the cost of living problem could he dealt with, and kept at a satisfactory level, rather than to have to j make continual demands for increases

1 in. wages. There had been no permanent change since 1912. ! There had been some periodical increases in the shape of bonuses. There was a demand for a review' of wages and conditions in 1914, but at the outbreak of war, the Society - had patriotically waved their claims for the. time as far as the basic wages of the men were concerned. 'Hie present, minimum wage was £3 12s 6d a week. With the sovereign worth only 12/9$ in the purchase of food, this made the railwaymen’s money equal to £2 6 s Gd, as opposed to £2 14s before the war. He

contended it was not fair to pursue a policy of low fares and freights, with a view of developing the country at the expense of the staff. Justice Springer said the Arbitration Court invariably held that, if an industry could not pay a living wage, it ought not to exist. Likewise he considered the railway workers were entitled to fair and reasonable remuneration, and the fact that it was going to cost a lot of money was beside the

question. Mr Hampton said that tile men’s demands provided, in the case of the guards, for a maximum wage of 17s 6d a day, and a minimum of lGs, and the same rates to shunters; and for tradesmen (boilermakers and the like) 17s and 16s respectively, with a few exceptions lie mentioned. Tile increases practically involved 2s Gd extra all round. Mr Hampton said the men were leav-

ing the service, and he contended it was absurd for the Department to let men with years of 'service leave, and then advertise for inexperienced hands to take their places. Hiat hit at the whole efficiency of the railways. Mr Hampton added that it appeared the proceedings would be protracted, and lie therefore asked that the Board should imnii Lately report to the Government. He continued that: ‘lf something is not done very quickly, we will have a grave difficulty in assisting the Government to preserve industrial peace in this country. It will , assist us to keep peace, and might also prevent many men from resigning, and thus liolp to keep up the efficiency of i the service.”

His Honour said lie doubted whether the Board could make an interim report, but he could make a recommendation that' increases granted be made retrospective. Dir Hampton : 11 But that won’t keep the men back who leave in the meantime.” His JJonoiip said that if the other questions took some time in getting settled, and he could see his way to .making ap interim report, on the one question of wages lie would do so. After a discussion as to the status of the Department’s representative, the Board adjourned.