RAILWAY CLASSIFICATION BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8876, 9 November 1907, Page 5

RAILWAY CLASSIFICATION BILL.

INTERESTING STATISTICS. SECOND READING] AGREED TO. By Telegraph- Press Association. WELLINGTON, Friday. In moving the seeond reading of the Railway Classification Bill, in the House of Representatives, yesterday, the Premier, replying to criticism that the other Departments were better treated in regard to salaries, ' seated that the average salary of the Railway Department (not including cadets) was £2OO per annum, £177 in post office, and £215 in the civil service. Including cadets the averages were: —Railway (which included a far larger proportion of cadets than other Departments) £149; post office, £152; civil service, £lB5. Continuing, he said he would in committee move that crossing-keepers in busy districts, and blacksmiths ,on special engine work, and men in charge of steam rollers, should receive sixpence a day extra. Proceeding, the Minister explained that the bill provided that no married man should receive less than £J3O a year, and that no officer over 22 years of age should receive less than -3100 a year. Referring to the third division, he said he was willing to place them on the same -level in regard to privileges, allowances and hours as the second division, but they must be prepared to do exactly the same work as men in the second division. He added that the total extra expenditure under the bill amounted to, for the first year £84,772, and, with toe addition of overtime, to £106,272. The second reading was agreed to on the voices.