5

D.—2b

Claim 65 (A.S.R.S.) : That the departmental method of dispensing with casuals of long service be considered. The departmental advocate [stated that a long-service casual was not dispensed with on attaining the age of sixty-five years if his report showed that his health and conduct were good and his work satisfactory. The Board agrees that this practice is reasonable, and has no further recommendation to make. It is understood, of course, that the Department is not restricted in any way in dispensing with casual employees for whom no further work can conveniently be found. Claim 70 (A.S.R.S.) : That, as the wages of Railway employees depend largely upon the profits earned by the Railway Department, the members of the Second Division be given some representation in the management thereof. No recommendation. Claim 71 (A.S.R.S.): That all tradesmen be eligible for the same avenues of promotion. No recommendation. Claim 72 (A.S.R.S.) : That the duties of night-watchmen throughout the Railway service be defined. No recommendation. It is impossible to define, in general terms, a night-watchman's duties, which differ according to the class of premises on which he is employed. The Board can only say that the substantial nature of his duties should be considered when a question arises as to whether he is to be classified as a labourer or a night-watchman. Claim 5 (Department) : That the words " and horse-drivers " be deleted from Regulation 91. No recommendation. The following claims were withdrawn by the Society's advocate : — Claim 19 (A.S.R.S.) : That where any guard or assistant guard is away from his home station mi duly on any day or days he shall not be booked off duly, with a consequent loss of pay, but work should be provided for him. Claim 22 (A.S.R.S.) : That special Sunday duty under the regulations be defined. Claim 27 (A.S.R.S.) : That all shunters be booked on in sufficient time to enable them to get a grip of the work before commencing duties. Claim 32 (A.S.R.S.) : That all gangers and acting-gangers be allowed two hours per week in addition to their ordinary time for making up time-sheets and answering correspondence. Claim 43 (A.S.R.S.) : That all hut allowances be increased to 3s. per night. Claim 57 (A.S.R.S.) : That the qualifications for annual leave and free pass for those casuals who are intermittently employed be based on an average of twenty-four hours per week per year. Claim 59 (A.S.R.S.) : That the restriction governing passes as applied to a member's family as a result of leave being overdue be removed. Claim 60 (A.S.R.S.) : That Regulation 141 be reviewed and amended in the direction of preventing sick and other leave interfering with a member's retiring-leave. No claims numbered 66 and 67 were presented to the Board by the Society. The foregoing covers all the matters on which the members of the Board, while not necessarily unanimous on every item, were able to report as a whole, without recording individual expressions of dissent or comment. Mr. Mason, however, expressly dissociates himself from the recommendation of the Board in regard to the Society's claim 61. The members of the Board were unable to agree on a recommendation in respect of the remaining matters, and the views of the different members are appended hereto. We have, &c, F. V. Frazer. Jas. Mason. Wm. Scott. M. J. Mack. Hiram Hunter. The Hon. the Minister of Railways, Wellington.

REPORT 11. Sir,— Wellington, 23rd August, 1924. In pursuance of the notice of appointment and order of reference dated the 13th day of June, 1924, whereby we, with Messrs. H. Hunter and M. J. Mack, were appointed and authorized, to inquire into and report to you whether in our opinion any, and, if so, what, alterations should bo made in the rates of pay and/or the conditions of work in operation in. respect of members of the Second Division of the staff of the Government Railways Department (other than employees of the Locomotive Running