D.—2b

4

Claim 4 (A.S.R.S.) : That leading hands in large yards be paid 6d. per day extra. No recommendation. Claim 6 (A.S.R.S.) : That the wages of men classified in the schedules of the Classification Act as " other leading hands " be increased by Od. per day. No recommendation. Claim 18 (A.S.R.S.) : That time worked on departmental holidays be not used in computing the week's pay. No recommendation. Claim 24 (A.S.R.S.) : That all Traffic members be allowed ten clear hours off duly before again being booked on. No recommendation. Claim 28 (A.S.R.S.) : That, in view of tablet-porters' hours being forty-eight and fifty-six respectively, their time be counted as continuous without deduction for meals. No recommendation. This matter has been dealt with under claim 29. Claim 33 (A.S.R.S.) : That the hours and conditions of the Railway refreshment-rooms staff be reviewed. No recommendation. Claim 40 (A.S.R.S.) : That the definition of " member " in Regulation 1 be defined as '"Any person who has been employed in the Railway service for a continuous period of three months or more." No recommendation. Claim 48 (A.S.R.S.) : That Regulation 73 be applied to tablet-porters. No recommendation. The departmental advocate stated that the Department applied this regulation to tablet-porters. The real question is as to what is sufficient time for a meal. Tablet-porters are generally provided with houses in close proximity to their stations, and the question can be settled only by considering each case on its merits. Claim 49 (A.S.R.S.) : That Regulation 71 be reviewed. No recommendation. Claim 50 (A.S.R.S.) : That the Minister's veto in connection with the findings of the Railway Appeal Board be abolished, No recommendation. Claim 51 (A.S. R.S.I : That any member who has been fined £1 or less, or has been punished in any other way, be permitted to have his case heard by the Railway Board of Appeal, provided that he deposits the sum of £1.0 as evidence of good faith, such sum to be forfeited if the appeal is dismissed. No recommendation. Claim 52 (A.S.R.S.) : That all casuals have the same right of appeal as other members of the service. No recommendation. Claim 51 (A.S.R.S.) : That the spirit and intention of Regulation 166 be given effect to. The Board is of the opinion that the provisions of Regulations 165 to 172 (inclusive) arc sufficient to ensure justice being done to an employee charged with misconduct or a breach of the regulations. An employee should be given full and explicit particulars of any charge made against him, and if he denies the charge he should be given the right to an impartial inquiry conducted according to recognized judicial principles. This is provided for in the regulations referred to. If the regulations are interpreted in accordance with the principles of natural justice, they contain all that is necessary to ensure that an employee against whom a charge is made shall be given a fair trial before he is found guilty and punished. Claim 55 (A.S.R.S.) : That the General Manager's right of selection be considered by the Board. No recommendation. Claim 56 (A.S.R.S.) : That the chairmen of all departmental inquiries be members of the legal fraternity. No recommendation. Claim 63 (A.S.R.S.) : That all members be granted the right of retiring from the service on superannuation after thirty-five years' service, or on their attaining the age of fifty-five years. No recommendation. The Act at present em powers the Minister, in a proper case, to allow a member to retire before completing the full period of service. To give an unconditional right of earlier retirement, as set out in this claim, would place an undue burden on the Superannuation Fund, and would affect the whole Public Service.