GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2496, 21 October 1922, Page 4

GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS.

WELLINGTON, Oct. 13. In the House of Representatives this afternoon the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, in moving the second reading of the Government Railways Amendment Bill, explained I that it was designed to give, ellect m the classification of wages board’s decisions, and also to provide for the re-classificutioli : of railway employees and to fix the dis- , tance as the basis whereon passenger fares , and freight shall be made. The bill also provided a penalty up to £SO for misdescription of goods offered for carriage on the railway. This was desired in order to prevent the abuse of the concessions now granted in the carriage of manure and lime for the use of farmers. Mr Veitch, while agreeing that the bill conferred certain benefits, hoped that, other railwavmen’.s organisations besides the E F C*A. would have the opportunity ol beino- heard bv the railways committee before the bill' passed. He feared that the re-classification proposal, however, was loaded with possibilities of reductions in the increments of pay to the men. The Minister replied that the bill would not affect the increments in any way. Mr Wilford desired that the Minister produce the existing agreement between the E.F.C.A. and Government so that the House could sec for itself whether the hill carried into effect the provisions of the* agreement. , . Jt . Mr Holland concurred in this suggestion and pointed out that the schedule to the bill showed a slight reduction m wages, which" the Minister interjected was due to the “cut." ’ , In reply to further speeches the Mmiaiei said the adjustments proposed in the bill applied only to the E.F.C.A. and did not affect the A.S.R.S. or the Officers ys itute at all. MT Guthrie remarked that the officers said they did not like the proposals, but in the financial ciircumstances of the country they would not stand hi the uovernment’s way. The A.S.R.S. complained that some of their ranks had not been paid as well as they should have been mid refused to consider the matter at all. Ihe E F.G'.A. met the Government fan'll and expressed its willingness to accept the cut in wages and forego certain privileges. An agreement embodying these things was entered into between the General Manager and the E.F.C.A. He refuted lie suggestion that there was anything discreditable in the relations between the Government and anyone connected with the l-.t. .t • The bill was read (he second tune.