D.—2b

2

Claim 16 (A.S.R.S.) : That double time now granted for Sundays and departmental holidays be computed on the schedule rale of pay. The Board, while not making a recommendation in the precise terms of the claim, recommends that the rates for Sundays and departmental holidays be computed on the classified rates of pay. Claim 23 (A.S.R.S.): That where any member is booked off for less titan eight hours at his home station between shifts, he be granted three hours' standing-time. (Regulation 115.) The Department's advocate intimated that no objection would be offered to adding to Regulation 1.15 (2) (b) (i) the words " Provided, however, that when a guard is booked off for less than eight hours between shifts he shall be granted two hours' standing-time." Tin; Society's advocate stated that this would be satisfactory. The Board recommends accordingly. Claim 25 (A.S.R.S.) : That standing-time at, foreign stations as dealt with in Regulation 115 be defined. The Board recommends that Regulation 115 (2) («) (ii) be deleted, and the following provision substituted therefor :— " When such guard is booked off duty for rest, under such circumstances as to entitle him to payment of night allowance, he shall be paid three hours' standing-time, at his ordinary rate of pay, if the period for which he is booked oil duty is less than eight hours ; and if such guard is booked off duty during a shift he shall be paid standing-time at his ordinary rate of pay for the time booked off up to four hours ; but in neither case shall such, standing-time be taken into account for the purpose of computing overtime." Claim 26 (A.S.R.S.) : That the working-hours of all shunters shall not exceed six per shift. The departmental advocate stated that the hour's of shunters at busy stations were, as far as possible, restricted to eight daily. In view of the nature of the work performed by shunters, the Board is of the opinion that every effort should be made to equalize their daily hours at stations where the work is heavy and continuous, and recommends accordingly. Claim 30 (A.S.R.S.): That all time between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. be counted as continuous, and no deduction made for meals. The Board has dealt with employees, other than shunters on night shift, under claim 29, and recommends that shunters on night shift between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. be given time off during their shift for a meal: such time not to exceed half an hour, and if less than half an hour to be treated as continuous time worked. Claim 31 (A.S.R.S.): That the winter period for gangers and surfacemen be extended from 15th September to 15th October. The Board recommends that this claim be granted. Claim 34 (A.S.R.S.): That gangers and surfacemen in suburban areas be granted Saturday afternoon as their weekly half-holiday. The Board recommends that, instead of these employees being granted a day off every month, they be granted, if the majority of the gang so desire, alternate Saturday afternoons off. This can be so arranged as to ensure that half of each suburban gang will be on duty for the full day every Saturday, so that the line will not bo left unwatched for an unduly long period. Claim 37 (A.S.R.S.) : That the Division Barrier existing as between the First and Second Divisions of the Railway Service be removed. The Board recognizes that in a classified service, such as that of the Railway Department, specialization of duties commences from the beginning of a member's service, more especially as between the work of the First and Second Divisions. Hence it is apparent that any scheme for modifying the conditions on which members of the Second Division can be promoted to the First Division must of necessity apply only to junior members. We do not suggest that, so far as adult members are concerned, the general nature or standard of the examination should bo altered in the direction of reducing its value as a test. We are, however, of the opinion that the matter of providing further facilities for promising members, more particularly junior members, of the Second Division to qualify for promotion to the First Division is worthy of consideration, and we recommend that it be referred to a special committee comprising representatives of the Department and the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. This Board has not had the material before it to enable it to make any concrete recommendation for the amendment of Regulation 49. Claim 44 (A.S.R.S.): That the matter of tarring and painting viaducts in the various districts.b: considered. The Board -recommends that the tarring of viaducts be paid for as dirty work. The Board also recommends that where, owing to high winds, employees engaged in painting viaducts are unable to perform their work without getting their clothing more than ordinarily dirty, they be considered for payment of dirt-allowance. Claim 45 (A.S.R.S.) : That Regulation 67, subclause (b), be amended to include all gangers. The departmental advocate intimated that this claim was not objected to. The Board recommends accordingly.