RAILWAY ENQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 6 February 1920, Page 2

RAILWAY ENQUIRY

FIRST DIVISION’S CASE.

[per press association.—copyright.]

WELLINGTON, February 5. At the Railway Service Board, Mr M. Dennehy, President of the Railway Officers Institute, outlined the claims of the First Division. He said that what they asked for was the following:—Maximum grade 1, £670; grade 2, £570; grade 3 £520; grade -i £470; grade 5 £420; grade 6 £36o;' grade 7 £325, and cadets £l7O. Lodging allowances were also asked for as follows:—For cadets sub-grade £1 15* per week, sub-grade 2 r?/-.p?r week, sub-grade 3 9/- per week. A minimum per year for married men’s pay of £240 was requested, and that the maximum scale for casual clerks should be the maximum for griide 7, viz £317 per year.

Regarding the hours of duty, Mr Dennehy said it was asked that at country stations the hours should not be" more than 42 *per week and at centres and large stations no 1 more than 38 hours per week that apart from meal hours, all hours should he consecutive; that al] hours worked between 12 and 6 a.m. should count as time and a quarter in computing the week’s work, and that every officer should be entitled to a. period of not less than 24 consecutive hours free. from duty each week. Mr Dennehy urged that t.V increase in the cost of living made it necessary for ail increase in the salaries of the First Division men.

Mr E. Casey, supporting the claims said that the readjustment was highly desirable. ’They asked for tlie regrad, iug of the whole division, particularly giving adequate salary to the man who failed to qualify for promotion. It had become apparent in view of tlie position in 1919, that the top of the lowest grade in the Division was really going to he the .stepping point for many officers, and it was asked that a sufficient salary be given to warrant'members believing that such men could live in reasonable comfort.

Mr Dennehy urged that the travelling allowances should range from £1 in the ease of officers drawing ovet £470 and in the case of salaries of under £470, 15/- per day. Mr C. R. Bell, and Mr C. B. Ryan asked that tho hours at country .stations! for istationmasters and clerks should not exceed 38 per week in the interests of public safety.

SECOND DIVISION, WELLINGTON, February 5. The Government has extended the order of reference of the Railway Inquiry Board to enable the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants to bring forward a request that employees who have served 40 years, and are over 60 years of age, who can retire on a superannuation of at least £250, should be compulsorily retired. This aspect of the case will be taken on Saturday.