THE RAILWAYS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1921, Page 4

THE RAILWAYS.

QI'KSTION OF RETRENCHMENT. I lIV TKI.KOInPTT —Py.K I’JtKSS ASSOCIATION ] j WELLINGTON, Dec. 2, j The members of the New Zealand Kailway Officers’ Institute ajre now | tonsidering ways and means of meeting j Liu* Department’s desire for economy in j the railway service, as a result of the | announcement by tlic General Manager ; that the service is being run at a loss. In a circular issued to branches of the Institute, it is pointed out that the concessions gained under the conciliation agreement have all been embodied in the proposed new regulations ; these will therefore automatically secure 1 nienilicrs’ rights under the agreement * so far as service conditions are c°n- , J’roriied. ‘Knowing then.” adds the circular, ‘‘that the railway revenue is I insufficient to meet working expenses I that the cost of living has decreased l,y (> per cent, since the conciliation agreement was made, and that the Government has announced that it is intended to reduce wages and salaries in the Public Service what do you consider should he done That a concrete expression of opinion may ho obtained from the whole of the membership of the Institute, the following issues has been placed before members: (1) Would you agree to improvements in ijerVir*.* conditions (viz., shorter hours, improved payment for Sunday duty, special pay for Christmas Day and Good Friday duty. etc. (embodied in the conciliation agreement being suspended for a delinitc period (say. six months) in order to retain the present scale of salaries? (2) As apparently some form of retrenchment cannot lie avoided would von agree to a rateable reduction of salaries in preference to having the •present serviite conditions interfered w ith ? (:t) Do you consider that the Institute should decline to accept both the fii regoing propositions? A ballot on the proposals is now being taken by the various branches of the Institute. The Executive Committee has gone exhaustively into the i(uestiou. and whilst not desiring to dictate to nieniNers. considers the Institute should endeavour to retain the present salaries even if this means suspending the o|>cration of the conciliation agreement for a time.