asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that, without prior consultation with the trade unions concerned, the Great Southern Railways Company are establishing a cadet system in their service from which all future appointments to executive positions are to be made, and that membership is to be confined to staff who are not over 25 years of age and who have not less than four years' service, whether they entered the service through the open competitive examinations or not; and, if so, whether he has considered the effects of this step in relation to Sections 55 and 56 of the Railways Act, 1924; and whether he will accordingly seek for the withdrawal of this scheme which would be liable to create grievous discontent among the staff, particularly at this juncture when harmony is so essential.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - G.S.R. Cadet System.
I have no function under Sections 55 and 56 of the Railways Act, 1924, in regard to a matter of this kind, and I do not propose to interfere with the discretion of the Great Southern Railways Company in matters of management.
I understand from inquiries which I have caused to be made that the result of past circumstances has been to leave unqualified, if not actually to render unfit, most of the employees who might have shown promise in the direction of handling affairs of management. It is to remedy this that the company proposes to bring into operation at the earliest moment the scheme to which the Deputy refers, under which the company intends to select by competition those of its employees of any grade, not more than 25 years of age, who show the greatest promise of aptitude and capacity for management, and to give these employees special facilities for qualifying in a four years' course of training, with, however, no guarantee of executive appointment.
I have been informed that this will not preclude the consideration of employees over 25 years of age for executive appointments, nor of persons outside the company's service, as may be necessary, for either participation in the course of training or for such appointments. The scheme is intended to afford the company's employees fuller opportunities of advancement than formerly and should in due course improve the quality of the company's administration. It does not appear to me that the sections of the 1924 Act to which the Deputy refers are involved.
Is the Minister aware that up to this every clerk who entered the railway service through competitive examination could hope in time to reach the executive grade and to become a chief officer? Is it not obvious that this departure is a breach of faith with the clerical staff, as those who are now 26 years of age may abandon all hope of bettering their position no matter how brilliant they may be? Further, is the Minister aware that if such a system as this had been introduced years ago the highly efficient official who is advising him in his transport legislation and who came to his Department from the railway service would have been ineligible for anything but a junior position in the railway had he remained with the company; and does not this illustration convince the Minister of the absurd nature of the proposal?
I can only repeat what I have already told the Deputy (1) I have no function in the matter; (2) I have been informed that the scheme will not preclude the consideration of employees over 25 years of age for executive appointments.