CONDUCTOR’S APPEAL

Evening Star, Issue 18281, 22 May 1923, Page 9

CONDUCTOR’S APPEAL

THE HEARING CONTINUED. The Tramways Appeal Board (Messrs J. E. Bartholomew, S.M., E. J. Townsend, and J. Hunter) continued the hearing yesterday afternoon of the case in which Conductor E. J.,, Collins appealed against his dismissal on April 10 for alleged insobriety. After the appellant had given evidence his counsel called fifteen witnesses (motormen and conductors), all of whom testified that there was no sign of liquor about Collins. Mr Callan drew attention to the fact that one of the witnesses, Motorman 'Agnew, was not recorded as having said anything at the departmental inquiry except that he had seen Collins at 5.57 p.m. He asked: Was that all the evidence he had given? Witness; Yes. Mr Callan: Were yon not asked to say anything more? Witness: No. Mr Callan remarked that the manager seemed to have been judge, counsel, and everything eke at the inquiry. He asked the questions of witnesses, and decided what evidence was relevant. Unless a witness had seen Collins before the Interview with the inspectors, his evidence was not taken. The Chairman: Was Collins not represented? Mr Callan; Yes, by Mr Mmrow. Witness, questioned by Mr Barrowclough (who appeared for the City Corporation), stated that he was not hurried out of tire room. Mr Mackenzie asked Collins if he had any questions. All the witnesses were kept outside the door. Mr Callan: Except the chief inspector. Conductor Dahren said that he had met Collins at 5.35 on the night of the suspension. They met at the corner of High and Princes streets, and had a brief conversation. Collins was then perfectly sober.

Ronald Stewart Mullin, a friend of the appellant, stated that Collins had gone to his place at South Dunedin about 7.15 on the evening he had been suspended. Col-,, lins was then perfectly sober. The hearing was then adjourned until this morning.