DISCONTENT IN RAILWAY SERVICE.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 11 September 1917, Page 2

DISCONTENT IN RAILWAY SERVICE.

tm ■ "■ LOW PAY AND "PIN-PRICKING." On the Working Railways Department vote, £2,943,500, Mr W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) commented on the growing discontent on the railway service. A great number of resignations had been handed in in consequence of that discontent, and -with the serious de-. pletion of the staff resulting from the war, whoever was Minister for Railways after the war would be faced by a very grave problem indeed. The shortage of expert engine-drivers and others would be so considerable that comparatively inexperienced men would have to be appointed to such posts, involving great detriment to the service and grave danger to the public. That serious problem should now be engaging th e attention of the general manager for railways. He should not be employed in the camps at. all. His place was in the head office facing this grave problem. (Hear, hear.) Two great causes of th e discontent in the service were the very inadequate pay given to expert railway servants, and the petty pin-pricking indulged in by officers promoted on a very bad system of promotion. (Hear, hear.) Dr Thacker (Ckristchureh East) al3o protested against the general manager being employed in connection with the camps to the neglect of the railways.