THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3168, 2 December 1914, Page 48

THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

WELLINGTON, November 27. Two cases of interest to railwayman were heard in the Supremo Court to-day before the Chief Justice—one being the adjourned action between the A.S.R.S. and the Minister of Railways regarding the right of appeal, and the other a case brought by .To Thorndon branch of the society against the parent body to determine the legality or otherwise of its action in appointing a general secretary to take charge of the business of the Railway Review at an extra remuneration^ The question involved in the first case was. What were the rights of the appellant and the duties of the Appeal Board in the case of an appeal by a member of the railway service from a decision not to promote him. Counsel for the plaintiff contended that (ho Appeal Board should consider every case on its merits, and determine not whether the general manager had acted conscientiously, but whether he had acted erroneously. All the parties now agreed with this view, and the Chief Justice concurred, and said the matter would bo dismissed. Counsel for plaintiff indicated that he would apply u> the Minister for costs of the proceedings. In the second case the chairman and secretary of the Thorndon branch of tho A.S.R.S. sought tho court’s ruling as to the powers of tho executive of tho parent body to appoint a general secretary as manager of the Railway Review at a salary of £BO, in addition to his secretarial salary of £320 per annum. After hearing argument the case was adjourned till December 14, so that counsel might peruse the judgment (yet unpublished) of the Court of Appeal in the recent Auckland friendly society case. ——■