THE RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1920, Page 5

THE RAILWAYS.

THE DEMANDS EXAMINED. ATTITUDE OF THE DEPARTMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. At the railway inquiry, Mr. Mac Donald, continuing his statement, said, in referring to the demand that signalmen, storeraen and shunters be levelled up and placed on the same basis as regards pay and conditions, that the character of the duties performed by guards, shunters, storemen and signalmen necessitated distinction being made in their relative positions, and under the circumstances the proposal could Dot be agreed to. Dealing with the Tequest that the pay of gasmen be increased by 3s per day to bring it into line with that of train examiners, Mr. Mac Donald said that train examiners were entitled to a higher rate of pay on account of the risks they underwent. As regards tradesmen, their pay had been settled after consultation with the heads of branches, when at was agreed that a fitter was entitled to a higher rate of pay than the other leading tradesmen. Full consideration would be given by the Department to the request that a married man's pay should be not less than the adult minimum wage.

Regarding the suggested increase in pay of hour to hour casuals, he pointed out that the Department considered it was an anomaly to pay them more than the permanent men under whose direction they worked. Touching on the demand that all second grades and percentages affecting the second division should be eliminated from the schedules of the Classification Act, and that members commence at a minimum to be fixed for what was now known as grade 1, he said that the adoption of such a principle would have a very serious effect on the whole service, and would give rise to great discontent.

As to the demand for overtime at the rate of 50 per cent, advance on day rates after 5 p.m., it had to be borne in mind that the increased outlay would be very considerable, having regard to the fact that much of the heavy traffic was handled at night. It would either have the effect of increasing the basic wage or imposing a disastrous financial burden on the country. As to Sunday work, the Department had nothing further to add to the reply which it had already given. Regarding the demand that all men working on slips or break-downs should be .paid time and a half, the Department's reply was that rate and a half .was paid for work done at slips and break-downs between six p.m. and six a.m. Where, however, work was done during the ordinary working hours the ordinary rate was paid. Referring to the demand for a 44 hour week, Mr. Mac Donald said the Department held that it was not practicable for any railway to adopt 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. as recognised hours for all branches.

The Department could not agree to a further extension of a 44 hour week. The Department wa9 opposed to alteration of the existing arrangements regarding time off for meals'. It oouldi not agree to providing meals in railway diningrooms, nor to ensuring the allowance to men absent from headquarters oh duty.

The Department could not agree to the request of six additional days' leave to all men of the second division, nor could it concede the demand that a month's leave of absence should be accorded on. men remaining in the service after ten years' service.

The Department was not prepared to make an alteration in the direction of granting first class passes to all members of the service.

The Department was opposed to the demands relative lo the men having a ehare in the control of the railways. It was not quite practicable to get the D 3 list out at any fixed time. The request that the division barrier be abolished could not be agreed to. This concluded the hearing of the case both for and against the demands of the second division.

Before the Board rose Mr. Hampton entered a protest at the suggestion of Mr. Mac Donald that the second division had denounced any agreement made with the Department in March last.

His Honior intimated that if the proceedings showed signs of being very protracted ho would submit an interim report to the Government with regard to the question of wages.