RAILWAY DEPARTMENTAL BALLOT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 23 May 1917, Page 5

RAILWAY DEPARTMENTAL BALLOT.

WELLINGTON, May 22. Regarding the protests of branches of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants as to conduct of the ballot, by the, department, the president of the Society (Mr R. Hampton) states the position is misunderstood. The ballot was not secret, and he could vouch for its fairness. The facts as he understood them were that the department found, as a result of the curtailment of the service, a certain number of men could be spared from those already drawn in the ballot. Not wishing to make discrimination, the department decided to ballot for the number required. The ballot was carried out by the assistant general manager, in the presence of himself (Mr Hampton), representing the Society, E. W. Henderson (president of the Engine-drivers, Firemen .and Cleaners' Association), and James Young (president of the Railway' Officers' Institute). Every opportunity was afforded them of seeing the ballot carried out. Personally, he was satisfied it was quite fair to all concerned. All the men included in the ballot had been previously drawn in the military ballots and held back by appeal of the Railway Department. It should be understood that the ■ department did not select the men. The Military Service Board simply withdrew the' appeals in the cases of the men drawn in the departmental ballot. It was only fair to the department to state these facts.