Decision Reserved On A.S.R.S. Election

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30365, 14 February 1964, Page 12

Decision Reserved On A.S.R.S. Election

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 13. “If you don’t finish in two minutes, I’m going oh strike.” said Air Justice Tyndall, mopping his brow, in the Arbitration Court this afternoon.

His Honour was presiding at the inquiry into allegations of irregularity in the conduct of last year's election for president of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. The time was 5.10 p.m„ and proceedings were drawing to a close. Originally intended to last three days, the inquiry had taken five. Denis McNamara Kane, the defeated candidate in the election, conducted his own case. Mr F. R. O'Flynn appeared for the successful candidate. Donald James Doherty, Mr J. D. Dalgety for the A.S.R.S., and Mr J. B. O'Regan for the national returning officer, Terence Redmond. Mr G. H. Sorrel appeared for the Registrar of Industrial Unions (Mr N. S. Woods).

Mr Dalgety had earlier called Raymond Oliver Toole, assistant general secretary (industrial) of the A.S.R.S.,

who gave evidence about the carriage of ballot papers from Wellington Chief Post Office to the A.S.R.S. office. His Honour: You were the defeated candidate for the post of general secretary in last year’s election, which was run concurrently with i that for president Have you !any complaints about the conduct of your election? Mr Toole: No complaints, your Honour. Norris Arthur Collins, general secretary of the union, said he was employed as a boilermaker at Addington workshops, where Mr Kane worked. He was closely associated with Mr Kane and had supported him in the 1963 election and signed his presidential nomination.

Security arrangements for the keeping of ballot papers from the time they were received until they were counted were perfectly adequate, Mr Collins said.

William Thomas Jonasen, A.S.R.S. general secretary from 1951-58, outlined the procedure in the counting of votes. He said he had been associated with Mr Redmond over the eight years he had held office. Questioned by Mr O'Regan as to Mr Redmond's integrity. Mr Johansen said Mr Redmond “always leaned over backwards for the sake of honesty.” At the close of the day his Honour asked all counsel to lodge their final submissions in writing and reserved his decision.