RAILWAY STAFF.

Shannon News, 11 April 1924, Page 4

RAILWAY STAFF.

PROMOTION OVER ELDER MEN DISSATISFACTION IN SERVICE. , There is said to be general dissatisfaction throughout the whole railway service in connection with the filling of vacancies created by the retirement of officers with. 40 years’ service, says the “ Lyttleton Times.” The staff are at a loss,to understand why men whohave not quite completed 40 years’ service, ■ having still a couple of years or so to go, have been superseded by men who were previously their juniors This applies particularly to case of recent appointments to the positions. of district (traffic managers. The grievance is that several officers occupying high positions have been called- upon to stand down and the vacancies have been given to men who previously worked under them. This has been done not only in the cases of men bolding administrative positions, but it applies also to the lower grades of the service. In some instances the men receiving the appointments are older than the men they are superseding, but with a lesser length of service. It means that men of 60 and thereabouts are being retained in the service while officers a year or two over 50 are being retired.

Another point is that the retirement of officers whose ages range from fiftythree to sixty years is throwing a very heavy burden ,gn the superannuation fund, which in the ordinary course would not occur, as many of the men are good for at least ten more years’ work.

Public and business men are* at a loss to understand the attitude which the Goyernment ■ have taken up, in view ’of the heavy payments which have to be made to keep the superannuation fund financial. Members of all branches ,gf the sfervice in the Canterbury district are of the opinion that the merhbers with the service to their credit sire entitled to and should receive any prefrnotions which may be made during the time they remain in the service. What they canngit understand is why a capable man in the po_s session of all his faculties and having great experience behind him should be treated unfairly. They much prefer the retliing age limit to be one of 40 years’ service.