THE RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 February 1920, Page 4

THE RAILWAYS.

CLAIMS OF FIRST DIVISION. COMPLETE HEGRADDra W-AOTEft' By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Feb. 5. At to-day's sitting of the Railway Service BoaTd, Mr. Denehy, president ot the Railway Officers' Institute, in outline ing the claims of the First Division, said that what they asked for were tie fol< lowing maximums:— Grade 1, £67o* grade 2, £570; grade 3, £520; grade 4, £47o;' grade 5, £420; grade 6, £360; grade 7, £325; cadets, £l7O and lodging allowances. , Ho also asked as follows for cadets:' Sub-grade 1, 15s a week; sub-grade 2, 12s a week; sub-grade 3, 9s a. week. The minimum pay of £240 per year for married men was requested, Bad that tho maximum scale for casual clerks be the maximum for grade 7, Tiz., £825 a year. I Regarding hours of duty, Mr. Denehji said it was asked that at country stv tions the hours should not be more than 42 per week, at centres and large stations not more than 38 per week, that apart from meal hours, all hours should be con* secutive. That all hours worked between 10 p.m. and G a.m. count as time and a quarter in computing the week's work, and that every officer be entitled to s, period of not less than 24 consecutive hours free of duty each week. Mr. Denehy urged that the increase fa the cost of living made it necessary to increase the salaries of th« First Division. Mr. E. Casey, in., supporting the claims, said the readjustment was high* ly desirable. They asked for the r«. grading of the whole division, partietH larly giving an adequate salary to th« man who failed to qualify for promotion It had become apparent, in view of the position in 1919, that the top of the lowest grade in the divhrion was really going to be the stopping point for. many officers, and it was asked that auj* flcient salary be given to warrant members believing that such men could Jir* in reasonable comfort. '

Mr. Denehy urged that the travelling allowance range from £l, in the caw ot officers drawing over £470, and in tho. case of salaries under £470, 15s per day. ' r ■

Messrs. C. R. Bell and C.'B. Ryan' asked that the hours at country stations for station-masters and clerks should not exceed 38 per week, in the interests of .public safety.