THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 292, 2 May 1913, Page 5

THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

CONTEMPLATED REFORMS. Per Press Association. rr , Dunedin, Last Night. Jhe current number of the Railway Advocate contains a short account of the proceedings of the Conference which took place on Monday between the Hon W H. Herries, Minister of Railways, and the whole of the local members of the executive committee of the first division of the service.

Mr loung, the President, asked the Minister if lie would place railway officers on the same footing as other branches of the public service as regards leave, Sunday duty, payment for overtime and travelling allowances. Mr. Herries replied that the amended regu.ations were in course of preparation,' and that they would be modelled as far as possible on those recently gazetted under the Public Service Act Ihe Minister further stated that when the compilation of the regulations was 1 completed the executives of the three 1 ail way societies would be given an opportunity of perusing them, and if necessary be granted a further conference with himself regarding them. In reply to Mr. Young's question concerning the schedule of pay to be provided under the proposed new Act., the Minister said that it would certainly-be an improvement upon the present schedule, and he would try and have it brought into line with the public service schedule. With regard to the request re D 3 tags, Mr. Herries informed the deputation that the correspondence on the matter was, being referred to responsible officers for report, with instructions to obtain the opinion of the Crown Law .officers. A definite reply would be furn-ished-as-early as possible. Consideration of matters under the heading of recort'stitution of the Appeal Board? delay in hearing appeals, and positions for those reduced in status was promised. With reference to the classification of certificated officers of the Lake Wakatipu service, Mr. Herries pointed out that the matter had been adjudicated so far as D 3 for 1012 was concerned, and the alteration required in' the Act to finally settle this long-standing trouble would be made this session. The Minister took particular notice of the statements and suggestions for the formation of the Board to deal with the matter of promotion in service and staff natters generally, and asked to he supplied with further details concerning the proposah.