RAILWAY POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1929, Page 8

RAILWAY POLICY

TRANSPORT OF EMPLOYEES WRONG IMPRESSION CREAiivU. DUNEDIN, December 17. The Minister of Railways (the Hon. W B. Taverner) stated to-day that his attention had been drawn to a. paragraph in the “Otago Daily Times” on December '9, regarding an alleged example of petty economy on the pait of tbe Railways Department towards some casual labourers. As this was liable to create a wrong impression, said Mr Taverner, lie had obtained from tbe General Manager particulars of the case in question. “It appears that a special gang was engaged working at tbe Glasnevin ballast pit at the time of the West Coast earthquake,” stated Mr Taverner. “This gang was despatched to the scene of the trouble and worked there for some time, being afterwards brought to Christhcurch where it was employed until October 3. All the members were paid travelling time and bad free passes granted them to travel from Glasnevin to the West Coast and for the return to Christchurch. When the Christchurch work was finished, tbe men were informed that a ballast service wa.s to be started again at tbe Glasnevin pit, and that the Department would be engaging men for this work. Eight members of the gang proceeded to Glasnevin accordingly and were engaged for work there on October 5. Three more men of tbe same gang joined up subsequently. The district officer at Christchurch overlooked tbe fact that tbe personnel of tbe gang was indention! with that formerly engaged at Glasnevin. He subsequently treated them as new appointees, and they were charged for travel by rail to take op tbe Glasnevin work. Immediately tbe circumstances were known arrangements were made for reimbursing to the men the amount of their outlay. This was in accordance with the usual practice of the Department that, when a gang is moved from one locality to another the members are supplied with free rail transport to their lie wcadquarters.