RAILWAY SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23339, 6 May 1939, Page 16

RAILWAY SERVICE

HEARING OF APPEALS RECENT RESIGNATION GENERAL MANAGER'S REVIEW The resignation from the Railways Appeal Board of Mr. J. S. Roscoe, elected representative of Division One, has been followed by such widespread publicity and what is considered by the management to be propaganda, that the general manager of railways, Mr. G. H. Mackley, has found it necessary to review the whole position in the Railways Appended to his statement are copies of two letters from Mr. Eoficoe to the executive committee and all branch secretaries of the Railway Officers' Institute, which have come into Mr. Mackley's hands. "The course I &rn pursuing, says Mr. Mackley, "is somewhat unusual, but the circumstances necessitating it are exceptional." Board's Decisions The general manager asserts that tho reasons given by Mr. Roscoe for his resignation from tho Appeal Board will not stand the test of intelligent examination, and proceeds:—"He states: 'My experience of appeal cases convinces me that no appellants have a chance of winning an appeal before the new board is appointed,' but apparently ho overlooked the fact that in the cases he, had adjudicated upon, he has supported 88 per cent of the decisions of the board.

"Mr. Roscoe also overlooks the very serious reflection his statement casts on the integrity of the present members of . the board, particularly the chairman, who-is a magistrate, in this connection it'should be noted that the board regulates its own procedure and is required to hear and determine appeals according to equity and good conscience on the evidence adduced before it." ' " „ integrity of Officers Oh Mr. Roscoe's statement, "senior officers of the department are coaOhed in the evidence they are to give, the comment is made that it leaves only ono implication, that the senior officers are not true to their oath. Mr. Mackley says that this serious reflection on the integrity of the senior officers is absolutely without foundation. "I would expect/' he continues, "all witnesses, either for. the department or the appellant, to be completely impartial and to speak the truth in accordance with their solemn oath. Any officer who failed to so act would not only embarrass the department, but would not be a proper person to have in a position of control. From my long association with, and knowledge of, proceedings of the Appeal Board I can say definitely that every endeavour is made to present the case for the department with the utmost fairness and I am satisfied that anything to the contrary exists only in Mr. Roscoe's imagination." No Favouritism " It is further pointed out that there is 110 favouritism in the service, all appointments being made strictly in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Government Railways Act. "Another error of Mr. Roscoe's," said the general manager, "is in stating that 'the right of appeal in relation to alleged drunkenness and alleged peculation is denied by the department! There are no dismissals for 'alleged drunkenness' or 'alleged peculation.' The real position is that when drunkenness or peculation are admitted or proved and dismissal follows, then, in accordance with the terms of the Act. in no case shall the person, be again appointed on the permanent staff of the department." ;:. -