RAILWAY MEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16486, 27 February 1914, Page 5

RAILWAY MEN.

STATEMENT BY MR HERRIES

THE CONDITIONS OF "WORK

REPLY. TO SIR JOSEPH WARD (P*a Press Association,]

M. . February 2(5. ■ In the edurse of a speech delivered on February 14 at the opening of the new promises of the Amalgamated Sociotv of Railway Servants, Sir Joseph Ward referred to the improved conditions of pay of railway employees durum the regime of the Liberal Partj. The Hon W. H. Berries, Minister of Railways, replying to-day, said it was desirable to place before the public what the present Government bnd done since it came into power in 1912. The earliest opportunity had been taken to give assurances that . the unfulfihed promises of its predecessors would be , carried out. To make the statutory allowances that had been granted by tho previous Administration, the Government • brought -down an .‘amendment to-.' the-VGovernment Railways Classification - AcT, providing, ior in- : creases of salary : *l6? members of the first division and of wages to members of the second division. “At the time the 1912 amendment was made,’ saicl Mr Herries,- “ I intimated.to the vanous executives of the societies _ repre-j senting railway men that the Govern-, ment had gone as far as it could fa.' the direction of improving their conditions at that time, but if it were found that finances would permit a further amendment to the classification schedule would be made during the 191.3 session, in which I would deal principally with claims of members' of the first’j division and put them on an equal foot-, iug with other members of the public | service in respect of pay. After look-, ing closely into the matter, I found it possible to give effect to this promise, and accordingly the Government Rail-; ways Amendment- Act of 1913 was, passed. Opportunity was at the same j time taken to increase the pay 'of ( juniors in the second division* and take • power which would enable the Department: to employ men who had previously been too old for juniors and too young considered as adults ,* “Immediately .tile .-19.13 .-Act was passed the iiew-vegulatidhs. governing staff conditions;'. 'weS/t*gizefted, and are now in operation. In-'these provision was; made .for giving members of the second, division opportunities . of qualifying themselves for transfer to the fifst division.;. The disabilities of juniors in respect; of promotion have to a considerably, extent-been removed in regard- to' all future; ,-jppqintees. Travelling in respect 'of the;- fir-isi; {diyision; especially in regard to ' tlidbefiiiem’bert employed’ .< as relieving offibera. 'tMemßers of the second division also participate in the benefits under the head/of night allowance. sick pay and holiday provisions. All the men "are placed on a common footing in-' respect cf leave when retir-, ing /on superannuation. * Other, improvements have been: made in working [conditions,-' which... although small, in themselves rep,retciit in the .aggre-gate-very material 'benefits and in- , creased cost in -the operating expenses of the Department. • „ “ Smallpox and the Labour unrest,” Mr Herries continued, “have had a 1 disastrous effect on the traffic, making : the percentage of working expenses abnormally high.” To blame the present railway administration for the high .rate of- working-expenses due to; th eee. causes ’is a ungenerous and un—: ■ justifiable and strongly to be dopre- j cated. Had tho same conditions ob- j .t-nined under, tho .former.’ administrations we should at least have had an equally regrettable position so far as the financial results, of operating the railways for the' same period were concerned.”