TRAMWAYS APPEAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 142, 15 June 1917, Page 7

TRAMWAYS APPEAL.

TRAFFIC INSPECTOR.

OPINIONS ENrRESSED.

TOUR. MONTHS GRANTED.

Th „ Auckland Tramways Company, eh Mr. ■"• ■' Walklate, general '__*-, "appealed yesterday afternoon the conscription of Yaughan i-lter chief trattic inspector to the -Lu>V on the grounds of public in■f, P t *' Walker enlisted „.. May IT, "."had been ordered to go into camp cv Jn-J" -■*- 111 V Walklate. examined, said he was •___<" from the point of V ' PW of r "" b ' kinterest when he asked for the exrmp- „,- Walker. No eloiibt the coml!03 ci »• ""*■ .nr could get over tne inconvenience Usiomnl by Walker going, but. speak- • > jrenerallv, there was no other man So could fill the position. Both the Tramway Officers' Association and the Workers' Union forwarded letters of protest airainst the appeal, n _l of those bodies considering that a j-irst Division man like Walker should *o before men in the Second Division. c Cross-examined by Major Conlan, Air. Vfsl-a- said that the ausence of Wafter might not immediately handicap •he company, but eventually it would do M Arrangements continually had to te made at very short notice for extra traflk, and none of the other men in the foapsny* employ could carry out these jrranze'ments. In Ins opinion the loss of the traffic inspector would constitute s distinct inconvenience to the general renblic. Tramway work had been classiEe d'iy the Efficiency Board as one of tie essential industries. Major Conlan: Do you not think it »onld create a serious difficulty in staffing and discipline if the feeling of the men was against this appeal*

Witness: That is a personal matter. I—siblv there would be such a difficulty, but lam quite prepared to face it. Witness then referred to the linforttinatn position in which Walker was placed. He was in the First Division. though he was of an age when the majority of men were married, and were thus'in the Second Division.

Evidence was given -by several employees of the company. Perciva! Ansell. secretary of the Officers' Association, said a meeting of the (—— tive of that Association, held the prerious evening, had carried unanimously a motion of protest against the appeal. Hennr Carter, secretary of the Tramm_v Workers' Union, said the opinion of tho president and treasurer was nrongly against the appeal. He beared this opinion wns shared by the m-joritv of the members.

OTHER MEX COMPETEXT. William Alfred Rockland, motor inspector, was of opinion that if every officer in the company was dismissed taere were plenty of really able men in tbe ranks who could take the vacant positions. Witness was in the Second Division, and he resented the keeping back of First Division men. He believed that other men felt as he did. Witness named several men in the employ of the company any of whom, he averred, could fill the position occupied by Walker.

Tho second officer in the company, Henry _sh. said be did not consider Walker as being indispensable. There 'ere other men quite competent to replace him. lie bad heard the general fvpression of opinion tbat Walker should tare to go before Second Division men. Andrew- McKay, in charge of the Epfom Depot, said he was a Second Divi"ion man. There was not another ottiier in the employ of the company who -r_ not competent to till Walker's Position.

The chairman, after consultation,said the Board was convinced that Walker ras a valuable man to the company, but ~as not convinced that he was indispensable. He considered that if a short time were granted another man could be trained to till Walk.-r's place. The Board was in sympathy with the opinion that oven if First Division men were in important positions, they should not be exempted when there were .Second Division men t 0 take their places. Walker *"•£ granted leave till October IS.