Department’s Reply: Need For Publicity Questioned

Northern Advocate, 17 March 1939, Page 2

Department’s Reply: Need For Publicity Questioned

[Per Press Association. Copyright.! The assistant manager of the New Zealand Railways. Mr E. Casey, to iy whom Mr Roscoe's letter, was referred last evening, made some comment. “The officers of the servfce have their own organisation, the Railways Officers’ Institute, which is in touch with the Minister and the management re? garding service conditions, etc., and is the official body which deals with any suggested alteration in the method of promotion.’’ Mr Casey said.

Duties of Appeal Board

‘’This does not come within the purview of Mr Rescue's position as member representing officers on the Government Railways Appeal Board, whose functions are of a purely judicial nature.

‘'The assistant slat! superintendent, and other officers have been engaged almost exclusively for many months past in dealing with Appeal Board work, and the fact that from the middle of February to date the Appeal Board, which is an independent body, ously is an indication that the department is doing its best to overtake the arrears of appeals. •‘The department lias no jurisdiction over the procedure of the Appeal Beard, which is an independent body, and the procedure naturally has a bearing on the time taken to hear and dispose of appeals. Board’s Impartiality. “The departmental regulations state that where disagreement between the department and the board as to the right af appeal occurs, the case is submitted to the Solicitor-General for his

opinion. There has been no suggestion up to the present regarding the impartiality of the Appeal Board. ‘‘The department has had no previous intimation of Mr Roscoe’s actions or intentions regarding his resignation from the board, although within the past week ho lias been in personal contact with the General Manager, Mr G. H. Mackley. and myself. "It is not understood why a matter of purely departmental concern should be required to be ventilated in the Press by Mr Roscoe. Successor to be Elected. "The necessary arrangements are being made for the election of a successor, to Mr Roscoe on the board, but the gazetted regulations require that a minimum of two months' notice shall be given to the members concerned regarding the election. "This will have the effect of holding | up appeals of members of the First I Division by a further three months." !

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