TRAMWAYMAN'S APPEAL

New Zealand Herald, Issue 17266, 16 September 1919, Page 9

TRAMWAYMAN'S APPEAL

DISMISSAL OF CONDUCTOR.

'ALLEGED NEGLEgT OF DUTY.

CASE BEFORE APPEAL BOARD.

The Auckland Tramways Appeal Board rat in the Magistrate's Courthouse yesterday to near an appeal by George Christoff, a, conductor, who was dismissed from service on May 21 last. The board consisted of Messrs. E. C. Cutten, S.M., airman, W. J. Hoidaworth, representing the City Council, and A. G. Barnes, representing the Tramwaymen's Union. Mr. A. Moody appeared for the appellant, ,ind Mr H. Rogerson for tha respondents, .the Auckland City Council.

Chriftoff, in evidence, said he had been conductor for nearly three years, and knew of no mark against him. On May 20 he was conductor on a car that leit tthe citv at 12.38 p.m. for Remuera. That ■was a busy run, and the first section, taking only about three minutes, was exceptionally busy. Soon after leaving the terminus, two or three men, who wero flight dropped pennies in his hand. At this appellant heard a voice: "Why tsli>n't you issue tickets for the fares you seceive?" By that time he had puUed'off «wo penny tickets and dropped them 'on the floor. Two or three passengers got off at the front of the car. It was the custom for such passengers to pay their fares to the motorman. Mr. Mackay, the traffic manager, who had made" the accusation against him, accused him of tillowintr passenger* to get off at both ■ends without bavin,,' their fares collected, ;and ol receiving "fares without issuing tickets. Appellant said it ■would not occur :again, and he would collect at both ends. that night he was suspended. Subsequently the case was heard before the general manager, Mr. J. J. Walklate, and later appellant was officially notified of ms dismissal. Since June 4 appellant, who was a married man with one child, had been out of work.

Cross-examined: The car was carrying 33 passengers, which was not a heavy r-JSld

Samuel Mackay, traffic manager who was a passenger on the car, said that at :the Stanley Street stop several men stood up at the front of the car, and looked round for the coridm tor. The first handed the. conductor a silver coin and said : Two.'' Change *as given, and the two men left from the front of the ear. A third man. after giving the conductor a penny, also left. None received a ticket. Four other men from the front of the car then left without paying. Appellant' did -id tear otT the three tickets until spoken to by witness. In cross-examination, witness said that flunellant ■*•« dismissed the day before h-s case was disc-used at a conference •aith Mr. Walklate. the witness, appellant, -and union officials. After that it was decided to uphold the dismissal. Witness •did no* take the names of the men wh> •did not cet tickets, as there was such a .clear case against the" conductor. Counsel for appellant then called a man "■ho he said was on the car. but witness denied that he was. At this stage the hearing was adjourned until to-day.