A.S.R.S.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3426, 18 January 1912, Page 5

A.S.R.S.

THE PAY INCREASES. [per press association.;] WELLINGTON, Jan. 17. In an interview at Christchurch on the subject of increases qf pay to members of the second division of the railwav service, Mr Hampton,, of the A.S.R.S. executive, stated that when the allowance was made to married men covering the increased cost of living, salaries being brought up to £l3O per annum and wages raised to 8s 3;]d per day the grant was not statutory, and therefore men were superannuated on the actual rate of pay they were receiving under the schedules of the Government Railways Classification Act, which in some of the cases referred to were 7s per day. The Railway Department states that this statement as interpreted is erroneous. As a matter of fact, men in receipt of the manned allowance contribute to the superannuation fund on the actual pay received by them, and on the same basis, so that a married man whose classification rate was 7s a day, but was in receipt of a married allowance of 8s 3fd per day, would pay a contribution on 8s 3£d, and receive superannuation benefits on the same rate- Furthermore, states the Department, it may remove the misapprehension that exists in the minds of men to point out that even in cases where contributors to the superannuation fund have given notice of retirement and been granted leave preparatory to finallv retiring from the service, the superannuation allowance of such men has been computed oh the increased rate of pay operating from the let November last, provided, of course, that the men ,had not actually retired from the service before that date. At the last meeting of the Superannuation Fund Board seven such cases were dealt with, the increased allowances that were granted varying from £2 15s 4d and £lO 12s 7d. This, it is urged, indicates clearly that the Railway Department gives an employee the fullest possible benefits tbat can accrue to him undei the Superannuation Fund Act.