RAILWAY SERVANTS’ SOCIETY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2741, 21 February 1910, Page 4

RAILWAY SERVANTS’ SOCIETY.

CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON

TPer Press Association.'! WELLINGTON. Feb. 19. The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants yesterday resolved that a system of punishment by marks be substituted for the present system; that in all oases of temporary transfers lod-iing allowance be paid for the first three months : that the Minister be requested to grant full civil and political rights to- all railwaymen; that all men bi-o-ught- on duty be paid for not less than four hours; that where work is continuous signalmen should not be called upon to work more than ten hours in any one day. It was decided to discuss with the Minister present the unsatisfactory methods adopted bv the DepastmenL in recognising the value of inventions by railwav employees. WELLINGTON, Feb. 20. Hie railwaymen’s conference yesterday resolved that the regulations requiring that- 4S hours should be worked before overtime rates are paid should be abolished, each day to stand bv itself, this to apply to the workshops: that, the conference urges upon the Minister the necessity of the decisions of the Appeal Board being final; that the constitution of the Appeal Boards be. altered so that the magistrate of the i.istnet- where an appeal occurs may be c.iairman ; that- the Minister lie urged to notify, appellants immediately of his decision in reference to their appeals; that the Department he requested to supply up-to-date fare books. The case or a member was considered who had been adversely reported on by his superior.officer, and had applied for a copy of the same and was refused. In this case the officer responsible for making the report- failed to comply with tho general manager’s instructions. It was resolved that where adverse recommendations were made against- members they should be acquainted with tho nature of the report. This places tlio member in the position that his services in ay be dispensed with without his belug aware of the charges made againsthim, and he therefore has no opportunity of defending himself. It was contended that there are many such cases where l reports are made against members \vho have not been given an opportunity of knowing precisely what they have been charged with. It was resolver? to place the case before the Minister.