8.-6

48

MEMOBANDUM OF EAILWAY EEDUCTIONS, CONCESSIONS, AND IMPBOVEMUNTS FBOM THE YEAE 1895 TO THE YEAB 1911. The concessions made by the Government in connection with the railway fares and freights include reductions of ordinary and suburban passenger-fares, season-ticket rates, travellers' ticket rates, inauguration of workers' 2s. tickets on suburban lines, granting of concessions to newspaperreporters, to delegates of religious bodies, judges attending shows, pupils attending schools, the extension of concessions in regard to passengers' luggage, commercial passengers' luggage, theatrical companies' luggage, reduction of the rates on parcels, racehorses, hounds, hunters, poloponies, milk, bicycles, abolition of additional charge for goods carried over branch lines, abolition of the rate previously charged over the Biinutaka Incline, reduction of the rate on store stock, show stock, frozen meat, grain, wool, butter, cheese, artificial and other manures, guano, manure salt, rock salt, lime, flax, linseed, flour, peas, corn-sacks in bales and bundles, sheep-dip, stock-foods, and numerous articles of everyday use by all classes of the community, which are, however, too numerous to particularize in the brief space that can be allotted in the Budget. New stations have been erected at many of the principal towns, and, in addition, large sums have been spent in improving the station - buildings and erecting verandahs at a considerable number of the less importaut stations. Siding and yard accommodation generally has been improved and enlarged materially. The safety of the public has been increased by the establishment of interlocking, installation of the electric-tablet and lock-and-block apparatus, equipment of rolling-stock with Westinghouse brake, relaying of track, respacing of sleepers, strengthening bridges, and replacement of wooden bridges with up-to-date iron and steel structures. Tractive power of locomotives and carrying capacity and efficiency of rolling-stock have been greatly increased, train services increased and speeds accelerated, workshops enlarged, and equipment improved by gradual installation of up-to-date machinery and appliances. The policy of building within the Dominion in the railway and private engineering establishments the whole of the rolling-stock required, propounded in 1900 and 1901, has been rigidly adhered to since that date, thus finding steady employment for a large number of skilled artisans, and circulating among the tradespeople of the country large sums of money that would under the policy of previous Governments have been sent out of the country to pay 'for foreign rolling-stock. No imported stock has been placed on our lines since 1902. The amount expended by the Government since 1890 in providing additional accommodation, establishing interlocking, block, tablet-working, telegraph, rolling-stock, and equipping same with Westinghouse brake amounts to over four millions and a quarter, and, in addition, the sum of two millions and a half has been spent in relaying track and respacing sleepers. When the lines were taken over from the Commissioners in 1895 the wages paid to the staff were found to be very low. The Government at once took the matter in hand and passed legislation resulting in improvement of conditions. Further improvements were made in 1897 and 1899. The effect of these was that in four years the low-paid men of the Bailway service received an addition of £51,542 to their wages. The position was further improved by Classification Acts of 1901 and 1907. Cadets' salaries were increased from a minimum of £30 to a minimum of £50, with increments to £200 per annum in twelve years. The wages of junior platelayers, porters, and labourers have been increased from 3s. per day (with increments of 6d. per day to a maximum of 6s. 6d.) to a minimum of 55., with increments rising to Bs. in five years. In 1895 it took a junior eight years to reach 6s. 6d. per day. To remove the disabilities under which the Second Division men and casual employees laboured in respect to pay when off duty, these men were brought under the operation of the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, and given the benefits thereof. A Superannuation Fund was established in 1903, the contributions being fixed at a low rate, the State guaranteeing the sufficiency of the Fund. From Ist April, 1903, to 31st March, 1911, 1,341 persons have been placed on the Fund, and of this number 1,061 were receiving the benefits of the Fund at 31st March last, the annual charge on the Fund at that date amounting to £54,144, and the accummulated fund, £207,243. Epitomized, the position since the Government took control of the railways in 1895 is— £ Concessions in fares and freights ... ... ... ... 1,150,000 (Benefits accruing to agriculturists and pastoralists from reduced fares and freights included in above, £650,000) Concessions in pay and hours of railway staff ... ... 870,000 Additional train-services, many of which have been laid on to give increased facilities and conveniences to the people of the Dominion ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,250,000 £3,270,000 T. Bonayne, General Manager. Head Office, Railways, Wellington, 6th September, 1911.