THE LONGTON CASE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 5 June 1919, Page 5

THE LONGTON CASE

ttEMAKKS BY GENERAL

MANAGER

(BY TELKGRAPH—rRESS ASSOCIATION ) WELLINGTON, Juu c 4. • lhe Geueial rianager or liai.wtys (Mr R. W. McVilly), in the course ot a statement regarding tne Longtou .ca-se, says that the question for the consideration of the Department was whether Longton, who, the' Appeal -Hoard found, had on occasions adopted an insubordinate attitude towards his superior officers, was fitted for and deserved promocion to a higher grade The regulations of the Department 'definitely provided that the road to promotion snould be efficiency, merit, good conduct and .suitability. I t was the practice to review the railway staff once a year. When the review oi 1.918 was made, it was considered that Longton by reason of his insubordinate conduct.' was not suitable for promotion to the next grade,.and it was against that decision that he appealed. Promotion. to the next grade would hav c placed Longton in a position of responsibility where he would have to control and maintain discipline of a staff varying in number according to his location It was clear, from the board's decision tJVit they recognised that Longton was insubordinate and deserving of uunishmex.t. "Surely," Mr Mcf illy **££, tne interval which separates a member from one meriting promotion is sufficiently great to need no emphasis, lhe department has neither reduced nor dismissed Longton, nor has it inflicted direct punishment for insubordination. What has been done in effect places I Jjongton in exactly the same position as any other member who considered he was disqualified for promotion by reason of unsatisfactory work or conduct of any kind." The view taken by the Department was that the promotion of Longton would place a premium on insurbordination and indiscipline, and would have' a pernicious influence on the staff of the service. The Minister had, on more than one occasion in replying to representatives for the abolition of the veto, v-.tated. that he was willing favorably to consider this request, provided the department had proper representation on the board. The suggestion for the alteration of the constitution of the board in this direction was rejected by the societies representing the employees. That being the present position, it was clear that public interest must be protected by the right of veto being retained by the responsible authority! The statement concluded by pointing out that unanimous decisions of the board had been vetoed by each successive Minister of Railways from t;he inception of the board.