N.S.W. RAILWAYS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17976, 22 March 1930, Page 7

N.S.W. RAILWAYS.

MEETING THE LOSSES. COMMISSIONER'S OFFER. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. —Copyright. SYDNEY, March 21. A number of delegates from the railway unions to-day interviewed Mr W. J. Cleary, Chief Railway Commissioner, seeking to learn the Government's intentions in the direction of meeting the heavy losses on the railway. Mr Cleary informed them that it was intended to revert to the 48 hours’ week throughout the service, and to call upon a large proportion of the professional officers to forego one week’s work in 12 or thereabouts. The present drift simply had to have ar end, just as it would if private interests owned the railways. The employees would need to face the facts, as the alternative was wholesale dismissals, which would he serious for business and the country, lie then caused the greatest surprise and pleasure when he announced that he intended to set- an example by devoting almost half of his salary, which is £SOOO a year, to the alleviation of the worst cases of distress in the service. In illustrating the extent of the railway losses, he said there was a loss of £15,000 on passenger fares and a loss of £35,000 in freight last week, in addition to a loss of over £7OOO on the tramways.