THE RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1920, Page 5

THE RAILWAYS.

WAGES AND MEN'S CONDITIONS. OPENING OF THE INQUIRYBy Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Jan. 26. The proceedings of the Railway Inquiry Board were adjourned, till this afternoon, the locomotive branch heing unable to proceed through the late receipt of the reply of the Railway Department to the association's application.

Mr. Justice Stringer, chairman, in announcing that the inquiry would be conducted in public, said that as tlie inquiry concerned the wages and working conditions of one of our great public services, he personally saw no reason why the public should not have the application of the workers and the evidence in its support brought under their notice. He would, however, consult the ivishes of the different branches of ih;> service, and if they had any objection to the proceedings being held in public they would not be so conducted.

Wellington, Last Night. Mr. R. Hampton, advocate for railway servants, said the present minimum wage was £3 12s fid a week. With the sovereign worth 12/OJ in the purchase of food this made the railwayman's money equal to £2 6/-, as opposed to £2 14/'before the war. He contended it was not fair to pursue a policy of low fares and freights with a view to developing the country at the expense of the staff. Mr. Justice-Stringer said the Arbitration Court invariably held that if an industry could not pay a living wage it ought not to exist. Likewise he considered the railway workers -ware entitled to a fair and reasonable remuneration, and the fact that it was going to cost a lot of money was beside the question. ~

Mr. Hampton said the men's demands provided, in the case of guards, for a maximum wage of 17/6 per day and a minimum of HS/- ; the same rates to shunters and for tradesmen (boilermakers and the like), 17/- and 18/- respectively. With the. few exceptions he had mentioned the increases practically involved 2/6 extra all round.

His Honor Raid he doubted whether he could make an interim report, but lie could make a recommendation that the increases granted should be made retrospective.