THE TEN PER CENT REDUCTIONS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2325, 30 August 1880, Page 3

THE TEN PER CENT REDUCTIONS.

SECOND EDITION

“Otago Daily Times” Saturday, Aug. 28. In tho Hailwaj r Department there appears to have been the greatest bungling in connection with (he enforcement of the 10 per cent, reductions. The month ended as regarded tho payment of salaries, wages, &c., on the 21st. Neither the employees nor any of tho officials, whoso duty it is to make out the pay-sheets, received tho slightest intimation as to applying the 10 per cent, reductions to the wages cine up to t uxi date. The whole of the pay-sheets were therefore made out at former rates of pay. On the vouchers being forwarded to Wellington, however, a telegram was sent back to the head of the department that the reduction was to apply as from Ang. 1. Orders were therefore given that all pay-slicets should be made out afresh, and in the Traffic and Locomotive Departments, clerks worked all night in order to get this done. A fresh diliienity then arose. Tins was, wo understand, iu connection with the Permanent Way Department, in which the wages had positively been sent out before the orders were received as to redrafting the pay sheets. This of course had to be telegraphed hack to Wellington, and yesterday morning, about eleven o’clock, an answer was received that the reduction up to August 21 should apply to clerks, statiomnasters, and those who may he termed officials, not to wages men. Only the permanent way men, we believe, had actually been paid, hut the latest enters as per telegram yesterday arc understood to be intended to apply to all departments. Tims in the Locomotive Department the following notice, which had been posted in the workshops the first thing yesterday morning, was taken down later in the day, evidently upon the telegram mentioned having been received :

“ NOTICE TO E'JTLOVKES

“The Hon. Minister for Public Works lias decided that a deduction of 10 per cent shall be made from all salaries, pay, wages, itc., from August, 1880.

“ Tiic lion, Minister wishes it to Ito notilied io the various employees that the deduction of ten per cent is made on the wages from Ist to 21st August, because there lias not been sufficient time to properly adjust the rates for the various classes, but that the scale of pay will be decided on before the next pay day. “ It is also wished that the employes be informed that they arc not singular in this ten per cent deduction, it having been strictly enforced in the case of every Government employee.’’ A further difficulty lias arisen. The officers in the Permanent Way Department, as well as the men, have received their pay up to August 21 without any reduction, and they naturally refuse to refund the 10 per cent from the money they have received, holding that they are in no different position to tiic men, and dial if they have to refund the men should have to do so also. This is the state of the case as we have learnt it, and it may bo taken as in the main correct.

As may be expected, from the first intimation being received that the reduction was to apply to last month’s pay. ail bands were indignant. It was complained that the Government bad no right, in justice or in law, to reduce wages already earned by an after notice; that men having worked for a month at a certain agreed rate of wages, could not at the end of the month be told that their employers were going to make a reduction. Of course the subsequent notice relieves the men from Hu’s injustice, although they still urge that they should have full notice of the reduction from the 21st inst, having now worked nearly a week without any intimation ; fnit the officials have the grievance still, and, as we have said, some of them refuse to return the amount of the reduction.

A large meeting of railway employees

was held last nigh! in the Sussex Hall, smug 200 being present. Several speeches were made upon the subject, the men of the Tratlic and Locomotive Department a being principally represented. and from telegrams read it appears that the same bungling lias taken place at Christchurch and InvercargillThe Christchurch telegram said: “ Mon have decided resist reduction, meaning reduction on back pay]. Mass meeting called for Sunday morning.” The Invercargill telegram said: “ Yo reduction in pay; only oflicers. Just got notice.” The meeting last night appointed three delegates to wait on Mr Conyers to ascertain exactly from what dale the reduction in the pay of the men is intended to take place, and a delegate was also appointed to attend the Christchurch meeting.

The following resolution was also unanimously carried by the meeting : “ Resolved, that this meeting protests against any reduction in the present rate of wages, on the ground that the wages men are not to blame for the alleged extravagance, waste, and reckless expenditure of the different departments that the Civil Service Commissioners laid to their charge, and t hey, in the name of common justice demand that the innocent shall not suffer.” A further meeting is to he held on Monday night to receive the report of the Christchurch delegate, and also of the deputation to wait on Mr Conyers.