THE RAILWAY SERVICE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10851, 17 March 1921, Page 5

THE RAILWAY SERVICE

APPEAL BOARD SITTINCS STJPERSJEtDEtD OFFICE®. KECAELS A PROMISE. MR HILEY’S LETTERS. The local sittings of the North Island Railways Board of Appeal were continued yesterday, when the appeal of A. E\ Firman, stationmaster at Dannevirke, against being superseded on the 1919 D 3 classification list was taken. Mr E. Page, S-M., presided, and he had associated with him Messrs A. N. Long ton and M. Lee. Mr J. Mason appeared for the department, and Mr V. Stanley for the appellant. Mr W, Stringleman, district traffic manager at Christchurch, Mr J- B. Mitchell, district traffic manager at Ohaknne, and Mr A. Fo we raker, goods agent at Wellington, gave evidence on behalf of the department, and the effect of this was that Firman was a satisfactory officer, but in their opinion not one who was entitled to accelerated promotion. Mr Stringleman admitted, in answer to a question put by Mr Stanley, that the appellant had been recommended for promotion prior to his departure for ike Front. APPELLANT’S RiEICORIX The appellant gave evidence tracing hi* connection with the department ip to the time he joined up with the N.Z.E.F. in October, 1916. He was then chief parcels clerk a,t Palmerston North. He left the Dominion with the rank of captain, and returned with the rank of major. His military record was good. Mr Stanley placed before the board letters written by Mr E. H. Hiley when he was general manager, which, it was contended, definitely promised that members of the service who had been recommended for promotion prior to their departure with the Expeditionary Forces, would not be superseded in their absence. At this 6tage the advocate applied for an adjournment to enable the appellant to call evidence of brother officers and district officers in the railway service. Mr Mason said that this aspect of the matter (the promise made by Mr Hiley) was new to him, and he would consider it during the adjournment and advise the board of the department’s view when the hearing was resumed. The adjournment was granted, and *he board intimated that the next sitting would be held at 10 a.m. to-morrow.