THE RAILWAY BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1927, Page 1

THE RAILWAY BILL

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POSITIONS. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Nov. 23. It is claimed by Mr Coates that by the operation of the Railways Amendment Bill, opportunity equal with those provided fn other departments, will he given for the promotion ol young men in tne Railways Service. He said in the House that the Bill really enacts a statute, which is in regulation at the present time, although a few clauses arc inserted as new provisions for the better running of the service. The recommendations regarding the Committee which recently completed its investigation into position in the service with « view to securing some uniformity ,\vith other departments in question of stall's, are embodied largely in the Bill. The motive which prompted establishment of this Committee, was the doubt as to whether those in the Bailway service were receiving salaries equivalent to those received by men holding similarly graded position in other departments. Il was wrong to assume that the Bill was going to allow a host of outsiders into tho Department. Mr Coates said, for ho was opposed to securing anyone from outside the service, if a man could he got within the Department itself. There never had been a periodical re-classification in the railways, and this Bill was enacting provisions to make sueji a course effective. In common with the interests of the State and Department itself it was necessary that “one mail ono job” principle should operate. Tn reply to Sir Joseph "Ward, Mr J. S. Dickson, Chairman of the Railways Committee, said there were 20 positions affected by the £~65 class, which were excluded from the right of appeal.

E.F.C.A. ‘DISSENSION. AUCKLAND, Nov. 21. The disagreement in the ranks of the Engine-drivers’, Firemen’s and Cleaners’ Association of New Zealand Railways was discussed at a meeting of 200 members -of the Auckland Branch. Messrs Lewlu, President, and McArley, General Secretary, explained that Mr R. Carroll had been displaced from the presidency under Rule 77, which stated that anyone \v ho had been removed from the footplate because of failing vision could not hold office. Mr Carroll stated that according to Rule 3, the Executive Council was tlio body to interpret the rules, and it had decided to retain him as president. No resolution was passed. The Auckland Association recently forwarded a remit to the Executive Council asking that Rule 77 he deleted.