RAILWAYS CLASSIFICATION BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 25 November 1907, Page 2

RAILWAYS CLASSIFICATION BILL.

Per Press Association. Wellington, Friday. In the House of Representatives this alternoou the Railway Classification Bill was considered in committee. In repjy to Mr llogiin, the Premier said members of the service would receive their increments as provided by the Bill on April Ist, 11)08. The clauses of the Bill wove passed unaltered. The Premier explained Unit in the eighth grade of sub-division 2, first division, the men had been raised from £235 to £240 per annum, and from £250 to £255. The tenth grade had also been amended by substituting for the eight increments of £lO, four of £ls, and two of £io. Thus a cadet could reach £2OO per annum in 12 years. The additional amount involved 'bv the alterations in the increments was £13,(100. Guards had been separated from signalman, shunters, and atorchicn, and the number of first-class guards had been increased to 50 per cent, and the rates of pay in class 1 were fls (id to lis per day, the increments being one of 19 and one of Cd per day. Similar rates applied to firstclass signalmen, storcmen, and shunters. The total alterations made, including allowance in last year's estimates (about £00,000), involved an amount between £135,000 and £140,000. Replying to a question, the Premier stated* that the Ofh\.«Ts' Institute had taken exception to the Bill on incomplete information. Jlr Massey said some juniors in Wellington had wired to their colleagues nil over the country urging that they should wire members of the House that they were satisfied with the schedule of the Bill, and he contended that members of (he service had a perfect right' to make representations to members of the House, k

Wellington Saturday

An amended schedule to the Government Railway Classification Bill Was brought down by Governor's Message at. an early hour this morning. The chief alterations are: —Chief accountant, ,£(525 to .C 700; second grade, .C>4s to £575; eighth grade, £235 to £250; guards, first grade, 9a (id to lis per day (ni'sximum number not to exceed 50 per cent of total number in both grades); guards, second grade, 8s Gd to 9s; signalmen, storemen, nnfl shunters, fls (Id to Us (maximum number not to exceed one-third of total number in both grades); crossing keepers and bridge keepers, 8s; train examiners and lifters, Ist grade 9s to !)s (id (maximum number not to exceed 50 per cent of total number in both grades); Second grade, 8s (id; bridgemen, »s; skilled laborers (subclass), !)s Od.

In the evening the Bill was reported with the amendments to the schedule brought down by Governor's Message. The Premier moved the third reading of the Bill.

Mr Hogan criticised the schedule of (he Bill, contending that there were too many harriers between the classes. In this direction the Bill compared unfavorably with that of the Post and Telegraph Department, which has jewel classes. "He deprecated the existence of two divisions, urging that in a democratic country there should lie no such class distinctions. Before concessions wcre-g-ranted. the public's first duty was to grant the lower ranks of the service a living wage. Mr Poland spoke on similar lines. The. Premier, in reply, deprecated the attempt of Mr Hogan to make an unfair comparison between the railway service and the Post and Telegraph service. In the postal service it was necessary in terms of the Bill passed this session for officers to pass an examination before passing into the higher bers had endeavored by their criticisms to gam persona! kudos at the expense of the Minister who was doing bis l, os t to improve the conditions of the railway Service.

The Bill was read a third time and passed.