THE ALLEGED "RAGGING" OF ENGINE-CLEANERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2804, 11 December 1907, Page 70

THE ALLEGED "RAGGING" OF ENGINE-CLEANERS.

REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER.

CHARGES NOT SUBSTANTIATED.

SOME MINOR SUGGESTIONS. (Fboh Our Own Corbesfondent.)

WELLINGTON, November 29.

The commissioner appointed to inquire into the recent allegations of ragging in the railway cleaning-sheds has furnished his report to the Government. He states that Bray had utterly failed lo identify any particular cleaner as having actively interfered with him. The nearest he got to it -was in connection with what occurred on the morning of October 25. In his report to Mr M'Kenzie on October 25 he said he had caught cleaner J. H. Syme, known in the sheds as "the Doctor," in the act of throwing something at him, and that he could swear to him. Under examination on oath, however, he admitted that he did not actually 6ee Syme throw at him, but that a "slurry" seemed to come from the direction of an engine standing near by, on the tender of which he subsequently saw Syme. He also stated that another cleaner was in the cab of the same engine, and must have seen what took place. Both the lads referred to denied in the most positive way that either of them threw things at Bray or in any way interfered with him, or that they saw anyone else do co. The commissioner states that he examined 17 cleaners, and one and all without equivocation positively denied having taken part in the acts complained of by Bray, or that they saw anyone else do bo. " Taking the, evidence throughout, 1 ' says the report, " there is an absolute and entire absence of the slightest corroboration of Bray's statenient. All the lads gave their evidence in an absolutely straightforward manner." The commissioner adds that' he watched closely ! the demeanour and action of the wit- [ nesses, and with his 26 years' experience in taking evidence in courts of justice he was bound to say he could detect nothing in any one of these young witnesses that could tend to raise a doubt in his mind as to their entire truthfulness. Some of the lack were of a partiuclarly good, open, straightforward type, and would be at once accepted as witnesses truth. To believe in the main the allegations of Bray, one would have to find that there had been a conspiracy of silence on the oart of all concerned and a deliberate intention to commit perjury with regard to all matters great or small. ' This, says the report, is inconceivable. The commissioner then refere in detail to some of Bray's allegations as to what took place on certain dates, and points out that it is incredible that no one should have seen the alleged occurrences. As to the general allegations— viz., the implied neglect of duty and failure to maintain discipline, slightly on the part of the running shed foreman and more seriously on the part of the night foreman, — the commissioner states that there is nothing in the evidence to support these in any way. On the contrary, in his opinion the department possesses two valuable officers in Messrs M'Kenzie and Graham, and he thinks that -both may be relied upon to deal promptly and effectively with any abuses that come under their notice. So far as" the duties of the night foreman are concerned, it seems humanly impossible that he alone can exercise such complete supervision over the two sheds as may be considered desirable. Night after night some 36 young men are engaged in the sheds. They are of all sorts and conditions, and of an age when they are full of animal spirits and prone to rough play and skylarking. That, however, does not imply that they are vicious, of likely to indulge in very serious practices. The commissioner, However, thinks that the risk of such should be reduced to a minimum. His visit to the 6heds at midnight convinced him that, under existing circumstances, it would be impossiible to enforce complete discipline amongst the lads. They ha/] countless opportunities for mischief if they were so inclined. The department, he thinks, might consider whether it would not be wise to have at lea^t one officer in the sheds whose 6ole duty it would be to keep all the cleaners, as far as possible, under observation. He adds the lighting of the sheds by occasional gas jets might be improved, and suggests an elcctnc light installation.