RAILWAY APPEAL BOARD.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 70, 23 March 1907, Page 5

RAILWAY APPEAL BOARD.

[BY TELEGRAPII. — VV.ZSS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, 22nd March. Tho sitting of the South Island Railway Appeal Board was continued this morning, when D. Wallace, goods agent at Dunedin, appealed against his position on the classification list. When the Midland Railway was taken over by tho Government "in 1895, Mr. Wallace, who had acted as manager for the company, was appointed goods agent at Dunedin, which position he has since held. Tho appeal \va3 based ''on the ground that certain ofh'cials who had been below Wallace on tho classification list were now in tho grade above him, and that tho department had not kept a promise madu to appellant that he would receive promotion on equal terms with other members. The department contended that any promiso mad© had been kept, and that though appellant had not been raised to a higher position he had received an increase; in salary. Tho only witness called was Mr. Grant, Traffic Superintendent at Dunedin, who said ho could not speak too highly of the manner in which tho appellant did his work. At tho same tnno witness would recommend Mr. Armstrong, chief clerk in tho Traffic Manager's office, Wellington, for promotion fn preference to appellant, owing to tho former having a larger experience. An appeal by G. B. McHardy, machinist at Hillside workshops, against dismissal for drunkenness was heard this afternoon. Tho olfonoe, which was coimnittod outside working hours, was admitted, but it waa contended that tho punishment was too severe, as tho incident which led to appellant's dismissal constituted tho only lapso .of the kind on his part. Evidenco was given by tho manager, tho foremen of various departments at Hillside, and tho constable who arrested appellant on tho charge of drunkenness. Tho managor and foremen testified that appellant was punctual and attentive to his work, and that they had never seen him showing signs of drinking. Tho board reserved its decision in each case.