IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 134, 3 December 1926, Page 6

IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE

RAILWAYMAN'S APPEAL

ALLOTMENT OF PROMOTION MARKS.

(By Telegraph.) (Special to 'The Evening Post.")

DUNEDIN, This Day.

The first case heard yesterday by the Railways Appeal Board, consisting of Messrs. J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M. (chairman), V. J. Stanley (first division), and J. Pickup (second division), involved an important principle. The appellant, William James Greig, for whom R. Hampton, representing the Railway Officers' Institute, appeared, appealed" against the marks awarded to him under tho heading, "Leadership, Force, and Tact," by the annual conference of district, officers. The chairman' pointed out. that this was the first'time they had had an ap-]ic-al against tho actual marks awarded. Had the board to decide what marks Tihould be given to tho appellant for leadership, force, and tact? If so, they had a problem before them, for in the future they must overhaul tho marks of everyone in the Service who. was dissatisfied. "We have some contract here," concluded Mr. Hewitt. Mr. Stanley said ho did not" know what good it would do the appellant to persevere in such a case. Tho chairman: "That is his right, but it means that we' will become s second board of review." Mr. Hampton said that he appreciated that this opened an entirely new position, and tho work that would result might keep the board going till the time of the next conference. The Department had forced this position with its new method of appointment. Any amount of men ahead of Greig might not, through family considerations, want a particular job which he might want very earnestly, but it was useless for1 a non-recommended man to apply at all. : Mr. Hewitt: "The officers say 'We will not recommend him.' Are we to say 'Wo think ho should be recommended and wo recommend him'T I think the Department. should be represented on a board of that sort." The board decided to consider the position and later the chairman made tho position clear. They would take it- that the man appealed against the decision of the. officers, which "was that he - should not be promoted for twelve months, as he lacked leadership, force, and tact. ,