THE RAILWAY EMPLOYEES.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 484, 28 June 1890, Page 5

THE RAILWAY EMPLOYEES.

CONCLUSION OF THE CONFER* ENCE. AN INQUIRY TO BE HELD. Wellington, June 21. After lunch yesterday Mr Winter said he was sorry that reference had been made bo the “ Government stroke.” Mr McKerrow, who made the remark, said he did nob apply it to railway employees in particular. What he wished to imply was that in all large bodies of workmen there were always a few men who would he inclined to “loaf.” Mr Winter remarked that in all the railway workshops the foremen were so vigilant, and knew their work so thoroughly, that the “Government stroke” was altogether out of the question. Mr Hoban could find no reason why the system of piecework should be retained, and the Commissioners had advanced no solid reason in favour of it. The whole body of men were against ic, and as tho Commissioners themselves could nob advance arguments in its favour, why not abolish it? This was all the business to be brought up, and Mr Hoban briefly referred to the questions thab had been before the Conference. The Commissioners and delegates had differed on several points, but still he thought he was safe in saying that none of the arguments adduced by the delegates had been refuted. Great diversity of opinion had prevailed on the question of the hours of labour, and the subject would require great consideration from the Commissioners. He hoped, however, that their remarks in regard to piecework would be agreed to in toto. He thanked the Commissioners heartily for the kind treatment the delegates had received at their hands, and he thought such treatment showed conclusively that the Commissioners wished to treat their employees in a fair manner. He was glad to say thab so far he would have a very good report to give to the Executive.

Mr McKerrow thanked Mr Hoban for his kindly remarks. Although they had not agreed on all points, the demands of the Executive seemed to be reasonable.

A verbatim report of the proceedings was taken, and it has been arranged that the delegates will have a copy to-day. The Commissioners will give their replies to the deputation on Thursday afternoon.

In reply to Mr Hoban, Mr McKerrow said the Commissioners were most happy bo grant the delegates the requisite leave of absence for the visit to Wellington. Before breaking up Mr Edwards asked that tho Commissioners should order an impartial inquiry bo be held into tho state of the engine-driver who was in charge of the Governor’s train on the Auckland section on Good Friday. Mr McKerrow promised thab this should be done.

Mr Maxwell reviewed the present regulations regarding time and pay, remarking thab they had now been in force over ten years, and great care had been exercised in drawing them up. Mr Owen said that since he joined the service in 1871, the scale of wages had been reduced greatly, and even during the last ten years it had been cub down. Mr Hoban pointed out that Mr McKerrow had admitted that the eight hours system could be rightly adhered to without cost, and that was what the Executive wanted.

Mr Winter said no doubt great care had been bestowed in drawing up the regulations, but it had all been in one direction, viz., to get the largest amount of work at the smallest possible cost. It was this gradual modulation from the higher to the lower standard that the Executive objected bo. Mr McKerrow said the Commissioners had already made a start to limit the supply of boys, and only yesterday had refused very urgent requests for more apprentices. Mr Hoban thought the Commissioners’ replies were scarcely definite enough on the boy labour question. Would the Commissioners underbake nob to engage any more apprentices for a certain period ? Mr McKerrow said they could scarcely do that, but they would agree to work the various departments so as ultimately to bring the number down to the proportion required by the Executive. Mr Hoban also objected to the intention of the Commissioners to regulate tho supply of cadets in proportion to the whole traffic,holding that a certain class of labour, such as porters, etc., should not betaken into account, as cadets were not trained to become porters. Mr Winter severely criticised the vagueness of the replies given by the Commissioners,and expressed the opinion that they left themselves too many loopholes for escape. Besides, many years might elapse before the proposed alterations could be finally effected. Mr Elvines suggested that the Commissioners should guarantee nob to engage any more hoys for two years. Thab would have the effect of keeping boy labour down to a fair proportion. Mr Rotheram did not think it was practicable to make any such agreement. A guarantee for four years would be much nearer the mark.

Mr Elvines : Well, if you cannot do that will you agree to take boys out of shops that are “ flooded,” and put them in shops that are under the proportion of one boy to three men ?

Mr McKerrow thought this a very reasonable request, and said the Commissioners would take steps to have it pub into force.

After considerable discussion the Commissioners agreed that after a cadet has served six years he should, if capable, be promoted to a clerkship. Mr Owen remarked that by imposing 60 hours on the locomotive men, the Commissioners had dealt very hard with them.

Mr McKerrow explained how the system was an improvement on the old plan of counting in standing time.

Mr Winter said it was no use arguing the point. The men had determined on 48 hours, and the Commissioners fixed 60 hours, and there the matter stood. The delegates were not empowered to come to a compromise. At one o’clock the Conference adjourned till three. THE CONCESSIONS MADE. The Commissioners have resolved to make the following material concessions to the demands of the employees : 1. By restricting boy labour in the shops. 2. By giving extra pay for guards’ overtime. 3. By abandoning the rule which leaves local offices to fix the working time, and by allowing standing time up to three hours at a spell to count for working time in the case of drivers, firemen, guards, without deduction of dinner hour. 4. Restricting excessive hours. 5. Abating piecework as a rule. 6. Raising the age for cleaners to enter, but they cannot underbake to treat persons engaged on intermittent services on the same basis as those on continuous work. The latter work on the eight hours system and the former must have their duties

i-egulated according to their services. _ The adoption of eight hours a day for intermittent workers as suggested, while costing the colony probably £50,000 a year, would also in many instances give an employee on the lightest and least responsible duty the highest wage.