TRAMWAY APPEAL BOARD

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 215, 5 June 1919, Page 5

TRAMWAY APPEAL BOARD

MOTOR-MAN REINSTATED. By TeleEranh-Pres, Association. Ghristchiu'ch, Juno 4. Before the Tramway Appeal Board, Ernest Snow, motorman, appealed against his dismissal, ostensibly on the grounds of reported discreditable conduct in connection with his family affairs. It appears that in August last Snow's wife brought proceedings against him in the Magistrate's Court for separation and maintenance, on tho grounds of drunkenness i\nd cruelty. Snow denied tho charges, but consented to an order. The -Tramway Board then considered tho I matter, but" took no action. In March last Mrs. Snow applied for an increase in tho order, and after the Court proceedings the "board gave Snow a week's notice, and he gave notice of appeal against his dismissal on tlio grounds that the full facts, of the case had not been put before the Magistrate! In to-day's proceedings Mrs. Snow repeated her charges against her husband, which he denied, and said the causes which led up to the separation were the company his wife kept, her attendance at race meetings, and the disrespectful maimer in which she always referred to appellant's parents. Evidence as to appellant's good character and efficiency was given, one witness remarking that from what he had seen and heard in the quarrels between appellant and his wife he judged the latter to be a vindictive woman with a vitriolic tongue, and he wondered how Snow had stood it so long.

Counsel for the Tramway Board said it was in. the interests of the public that the board demanded that "their employees should be men of unblemished character. There was no question of inefficiency. The only motive that actuated the board was the propriety of Snow's conduct, .. . * ■

The Appeal Board concurred with coun. sel that only men of irreproachable character should he employed as inotormen and conductors, but said that having heard the evidence adduced in support of the charges of cruelly and drunkenness it was inconclusive. Having taken no action after the first Court proceedings, the Tramway Board could not avail itself of what took place in March, as no fresh evidence had been put forward against Snow's character, and tiro proceedings were only for an increase in separation allowance. The appeal would be upheld, and appellant should be reinstated in the service. Each party was ordered to pay its own costs.