"COMIC OPERA METHODS."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1128, 16 May 1911, Page 5

"COMIC OPERA METHODS."

:. DEPARTMENTAL METHODS ' .; CRITICISED. '.The latest issue of the "Railway Review" states:—"Once more, wo have to protest against the ridiculous and unjust methods of tho Railway Department in conducting its private inquiries regarding breaches of regulations. The person who has been prejudiced on this occasiojr is an old servant of the State, who would have been entitled to retire'on superannuation next September. He has been dismissed for'alleged drunkenness, and lias to depend on the mercy of the Minister ..for Railways to avoid so calamitous an end to years of honest'labour. We hope'that the Minister's clemency will in some measure soften tho blow which, owing mainly to the one-sided methods of the Departmental inquiry, has boon a very, hard one. A. nightwatchman at Napier is suspended for alleged drunkenness 1 . He goes before a Departmental inquiry.- board, consisting of two members of the administrative branch of the service, and tho case against him is marihallod by tho Departmental experts who always attend to these matters. The eld nightwatchman told the Appeal Board that te is .deficienh in education. His deficiency in knowledge of inquiry methods and how to take advantage of points which crop up in the course of these; proceedings, in., crossexamination, must have been considerable, yet, tho inquiry '.went'on with the old man practically defenceless. The' Departmental. inquiry, went against him, and he then had a remedy before the Appeal Board. Hero again he was faced with the export Departmental advocates, reinforced with a' fulj report of the proceedings of-the'.'Departmental inquiry. But now he , was- privileged to have an advocate, who.properly asked that a Departmental file relating to the inquiry Should be placed at his disposal. He was refused, and had to fight tho case knowing only one side of it, his client's, whilst the Departmental advocate, with the minutes of the inquiry, knew both sides.' These coniic-opora Departmental methods will continue to impose a serious- handicap on tho members of tho service until they are allowed the' same privilege as their accusers, namely, representation on the tribunal, the assistance of an advocate, and the right either to a copy of the whole of the evidence, or the right to introduce a reporter to secure a report." .