THE RAILWAYS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2406, 22 January 1909, Page 5

THE RAILWAYS.

THE DISMISSAL OF EMPLOYEES. STATIC Yi.l'-NT BY Till!) MINI STICK. (Press Association.) WELLING TON, ’ Jan. 21. A “New Zealand Times” reporter, in an interview with the Minister of Railways, asked the question how iar the dismissals recently recorded were likely to proceed, and the Minister plainly indicated where the policy will end. “Our big building programme is pretty well over,” he said. “A large amount of building had to be done to ma'ke urovision for the through traffic between Auckland and Wellington, and to enable this to be overtaken, a large number of men had to be taken on casually. I bey number 120, distributed among the different shops, and the work having been completed, it is impossible for us to keep them on, as the ordinary staff is quite able to carry out the whole of the ordinary work, such as repairs land the normal building programme required to moot the growth of traffic from year to year. “Following the 'Opening up of new sections, are more dismissals likely?” “No more,” declared the Minister, without hesitation. “Some of those who have received notice leave this month, and another batch is going in February. Wo are thus easing down gradually, so that the staff will reach normal proportions at the end of next month.” So far the Minister had been dealing with workshop employees.'., and was then asked how the traffic hands were likely to fare.. “The traffic staff is hound to increase from time to time, replied the Minister, “as we take sections of railways. For instance, numbers of .surfacemen arc required to work niter the new -portions' of the North Island Main Trunk Hno. that is inevitable, and 1 do ■not look upon- th present staff as .above .requirements, as far M L ean ascertain' at present. For some time; extra men have been taken on, olid we have been. training them in view of the Main Trunk recmiremente. Therefore, I 'do' not anticipate any reduction in that staff.