RAILWAY APPEAL BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 838, 9 June 1910, Page 2

RAILWAY APPEAL BOARD.

, POUTER'S DISMISSAL UPHELD,

A sitting of tlie North Island Railway A ppeal Board was held in Wellington yesterday for the purpose of hearing the appeal of Thomas Roche; junior porter at Masterton, who had been dismissed for the, alleged theft of a bottle of beer from the' carriage. The board consisted of Mr. Haseldeii, S.M., and Messrs. C. P. Ryan (first division), and M. lee (second division). ' Mr. W. A. Veitch appeared for tlie appellant, and Mr. H. Davidson for the Department. Mr. Veitch said that nine bottles of beer, had been missed from the station premises. Upon inquiry Roche could not be connected with the offence. He had, however, frankly admitted having takw. a bottle of beer from a railway carriage one night. Tho fact was. that Roche did not know the legal position nor did he realise the seriousness of the act. Mr. Haselden: What should he hava done with the bottle? Mr. Davidson: Taken it to the parcels office, where it would have been class-ed as unclaimed luggage, and ultimately been sold by auction. Mr. Veitch went on to say. that the' beer, was of really no value to the Department. If he had found the bottle he would have "shied" it through the carriage window. Sir. Davidson emphasised the point that" the case required to be brought in the interests of the travelling public. It was not that the beer was of any great value, but that an important principlo was involved. The board, after a retirement of about an hour, decided that the appeal should be dismissed. •