A DON’T-CARE SERVICE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3169, 15 March 1911, Page 7

A DON’T-CARE SERVICE.

RAILWAY MEN DISSATISFIED.. RESIGNATIONS NUMEROUS.

The assertion made, by the New Zealand Railway Officers’ Advocate that j “seething discontent and dissatisfaction are manifest throughout the service, more particularly amongst the officers,” is endorsed in Auckland. Inquiries.. made- by a “Herald” representative ■showed that far from, being confined to one particular division the discontent is rampant right through the service, -and is likely to seriously affect- the- effioienev of the service- unless some measure of redress is granted. “The Railway Officers’ Advocate, said one member of the first division when approached, “does ndt overstate the position, but rather understates it. The feeling of discontent referred to is general throughout the Dominion, and is growing. Our principal grievances lie in the facts that we are paid no overtime- for‘work performed after ordinary hours and on .Sundays, although overtime rates are paid in the Post and Telegraph Department; that men when promoted from, one- grade to another are only paid on the lower grade scale, and that the salaries for many of the higher positions .are- not equal to those paid in the Post and Telegraph Department. Why we, as railway servants, who- have the safety of the public in our hands, should not he placed upon the same, * and an even better, footing than the officials of the Post, and Telegraph' Department, is hard to conceive, but yet it is so, and the Minister declines to accede to the representations we have made. The only principle •which seems to actuate him in this’ matter is to make the railways pay, but lie is doing this at the- expense of efficiency, as by keeping down salaries li-e is robbing us of tine sweets of promotion, and a disheartened don’t-care service is the result.” _ x ~ . . Another member of the first division seen, declared that the feeling of discontent’was never more acute- and universally rampant than now, and that the principal cause of it- all was the Minister himself. “ ‘No matter; wlia-t we ask him for,” said the- official, “we invariably meet with a refusal ,and no matter what further evidence is submitted the answer is always tlie same. r Lhe railway servants as- a whole, after _ the repeated refusals to- rectify their grievances, which they have met at Mr Millar’s hands, have almost given ■ up in despair, and as evidence of this, wholesale resignation is going on. I cannot tell vou how many have- resigned locally latelv. but the number has been considerable, and those who remain live in the hope that ere long one whom- they consider an autocratic Minister will quit the Railways portfolio, and that they will receive- -better treatment from his successor.” . Another official pointed out that .the service was rapidly being disorganised through constant resignation, and the practice of the Department in filling up the vacated positions with inexperienced lads. These lads, he said, through tlieir inexperience, were more often a hindrance than a help at rush times as they had to be taught, and when the big holiday traffic was on th© seniors were put to their wits’ end to keep things • going.