INTERROGATION OF RAILWAYMEN

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 226, 22 June 1939, Page 5

INTERROGATION OF RAILWAYMEN

Reply To President Of Officers’ Institute RESOLUTIONS OF NORTH CANTERBURY BRANCH By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, June 21. “This is a question of the civil rights of Public Service employees as citizens of a British community,” said Mr. J. S. Roscoe, in a statement replying to the criticism of Mr. E. W. Barnes, president of the Railway Officers’ Institute. “I agree with Mr, Barnes that there are two sides to every question. On this there is that of British democratic freedom against dictatorial methods. "It is inconceivable that the interrogation of railwaymen in reference to correspondence in a newspaper had tile sanction of any Minister of the Crown. Such action by departmental heads is therefore a betrayal of the trust reposed in them undoubtedly, and this would embarrass the Minister of Railways an'd the Government, who I have no doubt will deal with the matter suitably. "Regarding Mr. Barnes's attack on my actions, Mr. Barnes knows it was in my capacity as national representative on the appeal board that I gave full particulars to the Primo Minister, the Minister of Railways and the Railways Officers’ Institute. As branch secretary I leave comment to the members of the institute, who will no doubt instruct the delegates to assemble in Wellington next Tuesday for the annual conference.”

A large and representative general meeting of the North Canterbury branch of the Railway Officers’ Institute tonight carried the following resolutions :

“This meeting approves of the action of the branch secretary in forwarding copies of statements by members interrogated to all branch secretaries and executive councillors with a covering letter advising them that the matter contained therein be treated as confidential to R. 0.1. members only.”

“That the branch committee’s action in calling a special general meeting of. members to deal with the question of interrogation of officers is approved.” “That this meeting approves of Mr. Roscoe’s action in his capacity as division representative on the Railways Appeal Board in sending full statements by members' interrogated to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Hallways.”

"That-, this meeting has every confidence in Mr. Roscoe as its representative on the appeal board and as branch secretary and deprecates the action of our national president, Mr. Barnes, as reported in a Press Association message from Wellington, in publicly attacking him in the name of the president of the New Zealand Railways Officers’ Institute.