THE RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 131, 21 October 1912, Page 4

THE RAILWAYS.

INCREASES IN SALARIES. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent). Wellington, Saturday. The amendment to tho Government Railways Act, introduced in the House of Representatives last evening, makes provision for increases in the salaries of the first and second division of the service. These increases will come into action on April 1, 1013. The general manager's salary, which at present is £1250, wilL. be increased to £3OOO, in accordance with the Government's previously announced policy to get an expert from outside. The maximum salary of the chief clerk, wlich formerly stood at£7oQ, is increased to £900; that of the chief mechanical engineer of £9OO is unaltered, so also are the salaries of the district traffic managers and the engineer in charge of the maintenance branch. The chief accountant's salary is raised by £SO to £750, and that of the controller of stores from £525 to £OSO. The advance to the maximum is in each instance to be by increments —two increments of £so—that is to say, the miniUnum salary is £IOO less than the amounts quoted. In the salaries for subdivision JI, of the first division (salaried stall' not otherwise specified), no increase is made in the minimum salary for the first five grades. The increases in the minimum salary for the other grades in this division are as follow: Grade .0, £315 to £330; grade 7, £260 to £285; grade 8, £240 to £255; grade 9, £2lO to £215; grade 10, £l2O to £ 125. The increase for the various subgrades of the grades already mentioned increases progressively. In the second' division the maximum salary for firstclass guards is increased from lis to lis Od per day. Second-class guards and signalmen and storemen remain unaltered. First and second-class shunters also remain the same, but both classes of' crane drivers are given an increase of Od per day—that is from 10s to 10s 6d iin tUsto 9s 6d. The Bill provides for a wage of '9s a day for laborers and porters and 5s 6d for junior porters. In class 2 of the locomotive division the maximum wages of first-class leading tradesmen are increased from 13s to 13s 6d a. day, and second-class from 12s to 12s <3d; other leading hands from lis (Id to 12s. Sub-class 2of the last-mention-ed .branch is dealt with as follows: First grade hands, lis to lis 6d; second grade, a straight-out wage of 10s. This abolishes the minimum of 9s 6d formerly existing. Junior tradesmen in the workshops are granted an increase of Is a day, from 8s to 9s. The wages of apprentices are increased as follows: First year, Is Gd to 2s; second vear, 2s to 2s tkl; third year, 2s fid to 3s: fourth year, 3s to 4s; fifth year, 4s to 4s fid. The minimum salary for wo.od and ironworking machinists unci strikers, holders up and fettlers has been abolished and a maximum wage of 10s and 9s Od for first and second grade hands respectively has been instituted. Leading laborer* get an increase from 9s 0d to 10s. Skilled laborers arc increased from 9s to 9s Od, and ordinary laborers from 8s to 9s. This rate is already being paid. A new class called senior engine-drivers is created. These will be paid a maximum rate of 15s a day. Engine-drivers and night foremen of cleaners remain as at present, and firemen, wash-out men, crane drivers and shop engine men are increased 6d per day. Train examiners and lifters of the first class arc increased Is per day and second olasg Od per da,y. In the maintenance branch leading masons and bricklayers, blacksmiths, litters and carpenters of both classes, leading painters and shunters of the first class, and fitters, blacksmiths, carpenters and plumbers in s ib-class 5 all receive an increase of 0d per day. Junior tradesmen, in sub-claps 0 arc. increased' from 8s to 9s per day. Gangers, platelayers and surfacemen all receive an increase of 6d per day. Men in the latter class residing in isolated places are granted ,6d a day additional on the rates quoted. First grade electric linesmen get an increase of Is a day, making the maximum salary 12s, and second grade an advance from 10$ Od to lis.