309
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference
C.O.882/12
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
130
the department thinks necessary. But if the costing figures have any meaning, as we believe to be the case, they cannot be entirely ignored, and they can be used not as an absolute guide, but as a check on the new proposals. The very large increase which the costing figures show justifies us generally in proposing a small reduction in the proposed allotment, though each reduction which we recommend is due to the special reasons which we indicate.
8. The details of the reductions in railway expenditure proposed by the department are set out in Appendix IV.
We can summarize the effect by the following tables; the figures are taken from the budget.
Salaries
A. PERMANENT WAY.
Reduction. Resulting Cost. Further Cut.
(proposed by department.)
Rs.
Rs.
13,074
37,806
Rs. 12,250
Wages
63,646
116,754
Overtime
5,000
2,000
Materials, etc.
19,500
67,000
2,000 1,000
Sidings
24,000
Total
247,560
15,250
101,220
Of the additional retrenchment which we propose Rs.2,650 repre. sents the cuts in salary on the general scheme, the details of which are shown in Appendix II. For reasons which we have discussed in dealing with the Public Works Department we cannot agree with a system of inspection which assigns some Inspectors to the permanent way and some to works, and makes both travel over the same ground. We, therefore, reduce one post on Rs.3,000 and one on Rs.1,800, leaving the very adequate staff of five Inspectors and Assistant Inspectors, under the Engineer, for the supervision of way and works under the much easier conditions which will result from the reduction of traffic. The latter fact should make it possible entirely to dispense with overtime charges.
The posts of one Accounts Clerk on Rs.1,200 and four Store- keepers at Rs.3,600 have been created since 1918 and can now be dispensed with; our scheme provides a full number of clerks, to whom the work can be entrusted. The general retrenchment will reduce the cost of the stores department and it will be possible to take Rs.1,000 from the amount charged against this branch.
It will be admitted that a provision of Rs.232.310 is a full pro- vision for ordinary annual charges on the permanent way.
9.
131
B.-MECHANICAL.
Reduction. Resulting Cost. Further Cut.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Salaries Wages Materials
21,760
25,860
2,720
113,900
113,320
30,000
86,300
109,509
Total
221,960
242,689
32,720
The general cut will reduce the cost of this branch by Rs.2,020.
a
We notice from the detailed costing statements that the cost of maintaining engines (labour and materials) is ordinarily divided according to engine tonnage in traffic, and on present working this gives the result that the passenger engines cost more than twice as much as the goods; yet the departmental scheme now allots Rs.113,800 to passenger engines and Rs.93,120 to goods. We feel safe in recommending a reduction by Rs.20,000 as the engine ton- nage in traffic will be so very much less. We also pote that the allocation of plant, stores, etc., was 70 per cent. to passenger engines and 30 per cent. to goods; in the departmental figures of reduction the relative percentages are exactly reversed. We recom- mend a further reduction of Rs.10,000.
10.
C.-TRANSPORTATION.
Reduction. Resulting Cost. Further Cut.
Rs:
Rs.
Rs.
↓
Traffic control
30,593
38,337
13,647
Engine staff
40,700
47,220
Engine staff over-
time
24,300
16,200
6,200
Guards, etc.
22,560
29,810
2,261
Station masters
63,613
38,013
4,039
Station clerks
37,785
27,280
230
Station wages
25,390
44,810
Overtime (clerks)
6,600
4,400
4,400
Overtime (wages)
20,400
13,600
7,000
Total
271,941
259,670
37,777
The general retrenchment will reduce salaries in this group by Rs.7,477..The conditions of traffic after the reorganization will clearly not be such as to require a post of Operating Superintendent on Rs.12,500 (or even Rs.11,000, as is contemplated at the next
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