REASONS EXAMINED

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1935, Page 7

REASONS EXAMINED

BOARD’S . DISMISSAL OF WORKMEN.

TRAMWAYMEN AT CHRISTCHURCH.

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Christchurch, Oct. 14.

The' Christchurch Tramway Board’s reasons for dismissing three men Who joined the service during the strike in 1932 were further examined at a sitting of the Tramway Appeal Board ‘ to-day. The board reserved its decision. The appellants were Messrs. William Lewis, Frank George Buckley and Frederick James Mitchell. The appeal board consisted of Messrs. H. A. Young, S.M., J. A. Webb, union representative, and George Manning, tramway board’s representative. Mr. C. S. Thomas with Mr. W. F. Tracy appeared for the appellants and Mr. J. D. Hutchison for the board. Mr. Frank Thompson, formerly manager of the tramways said he warned the board about the surplus of men in February. “My main reason for resigning," he said, “was that I knew that the surplus of men was going be used as an excuse to discharge some of the new men. That has come about. It has started, anyhow.” Messrs. Buckley and Mitchell gave evidence of Jheir good records in the service. " ‘

Mr. Hutchison in opening his case argued that the'* appeal board had no jurisdiction in the present cases It was intended only to determine the appeals of men dismissed as punishment. These men had been dismissed as part of a retrenchment scheme, and he contended the tramway board had the right to select which men it could do without. Mr. William Dick, traffic manager, said he had selected the men for dismissal. He was instructed to select on seniority, the strike period not to be considered as a break in service. As his instructions really put strikers senior to. new men he chose the three new men who in his opinion were those whose services could best be spared. The Rev. John Kendrick Archer, chairman of the tramway board, said the board’s policy had been simply to keep as many men as possible employed. It was not the policy of the board to build up a surplus so that new men might be dismissed. ' Later in cross-examination he said he had no personal feeling against the new men, but his feeling towards the strike breakers was one of disfavour. Counsel: Have you referred to the new men as “scabs”? Mr. Archer: Possibly.