ALLEGED "RAGGING."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8869, 1 November 1907, Page 6

ALLEGED "RAGGING."

ENQUIRY AT CHRISTCHURCH

By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, October 31. The "ragging" enquiry commenced to-day, before Mr Bishop, S.M., at the Railway Station. Mr Bishop stated that the allegations to be investigated were those of the lad Arthur Bray, whose case recently attracted much public notice. Alexander McKenzie, foreman of the Christchurch cleaning sheds, gave evidence that Bray came to • Christchurch'from Timaru.. He was first .employed on the day shift (8 a.m. to 5 p.m), and started night work on October 21st. He was placed in the charge of the senior cleaner (McNeisb), who had to supervise Ms work, and see that he was not interfered with. On the morning of October 22nd the night foreman report-' ed that Bray had left afterfour and a-half hours' work, giving no reason for doing so. Witness saw Bray next morning, and the latter said lie had been pelted with greasy cotton, and had been called "slurry" by other cleaners, and he was not going to stop and be made a target of. He said he also tried to # find the night foreman, but failed. Bray resumed work, and witness went to Timaru. On his return he asked Bray \vhy he had complained to the Lyttelton Times before speaking to witness, this being a breach of the regulations. Bray-- replied that the matter was of public interest, and he was justified in making the statement through the newspapers. After lengthy evidence witness said, in reply to Mr Bishop, that he believed "slurrying" was a common thing amongst cleaners. He had been 34 years in the service, and there ■had never been any or bullying. Further* evidence was given by cleaners to the effect that they did not see slurries thrown at Bray or a sack put over him. There was a certain amount of slurrying at the sheds, but it was taken in good part. The cleaners had not talked about making it warm for Bray. , John H. Graham, the night foreman, said that the practises now in vogue in the sheds were nothing compared to those in vogue when he joined. He did not think that the experience in Timaru had affected the treatment accorded to him in Christchurch. The enquiry was then adjourned till to-morrow.