RAILWAY APPOINTMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1073, 11 March 1911, Page 3

RAILWAY APPOINTMENTS.

Sir,—l gather from the replies of>. (lie linn. J. A. Millar and the Prime Minister on the above subject that anyone in the servico who takes the to qualify, can, and will, get promotion, and that in every case equal opportunity is given (o all if ■ they will only avail themselves of it. Hero are a few questions for those in authority to answer.

Did uot the son of a chief engineer start in Railway Workshops as an apprentice fitter, and that during the last year or so of his apprenticeship was he not taken into the head office and allowed to qualify as a draughtsman?

Was not tho so'n of an inspecting engineer, also an apprentice fitter," treated in the same way?

Why are not ail apprentice fitters given the same chanco as the above? . Did not a man in tho Electrical Department, Dunedin, go to Australia in liis own time, and at his own expense, to specialise in a certain class of work, returned to New Zealand, carried out tho work here, and is now in charge without promotion?

Did not the same man make improvements which saved the Department at least 'iO a year, and.was rewarded with a bonus of .£3O?

Havo not a number of guards, signalmen. etc.. taken tho time and trouble to oualify for promotion to tho clerical division, and although ready and willing to sit for examination are denied the opportunity? And, finally, have tho regulations not been so ameuded i as to make it more difficult for men injured ill the service to get appointed into this branch of the railway service?—l am, etc., FAIR PLAY.