MERIT AND DEMERIT SYSTEM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1232, 14 September 1911, Page 4

MERIT AND DEMERIT SYSTEM.

THE CHRISTCEURCH TRAMWAYS, (By TelcEraph.-Prcse Association.) Christchurch, September 13. In a lengthy statement Mr. Goo. T» Booth, chairman of the Tramway Board, deals categorically with the allocations made at last night's public meeting at which grievances of tramway employees arising out of tho operation of tho merit aud demerit system were discussed. After enumerating the five separate means provided for appealing ajrainst decisions under tho system, lie states that of twelve appeals during tho past twelve months eight were dismissed, two succeeded, aud in two cases the demerits originally awarded were reduced. Early in the year tho union asked the board to receive a deputation regarding complaints of treatment accorded all brauohes of the service, but the deputation did not make any objection to the merit and demerit system or to_ punishments thereunder. In" view of this, and of the clnborato machinery provided for hearing grievances, and the comparatively small use that is made of it, it is abundantly clear (Mr. Booth says) cither that the alleged accumulation of grievances under the' merit aud demerit system docs not exist, or that tho constitutional remedies have not been exhausted. Regarding tho system of inspection, he says the uninformed publicmight be led to assume that inspectors are really intended to act the part of criminal detectives, and to adopt any kind of trick to entrap aud catch erring employees. Such a supposition hardly calls for refutation. An effective system of detection must be secrot, or as nearly so as practicable. Our iuspectors aro well known, to every man in the service, most of them having worked their way up from the ranks, and they are clad in uniform which effectually prevents any attempt at secrecy, even if such was desired, which it is not. Tho fact is that tho board's inspection system is corrective rather than detective. It ftiay be necessary at rimes to employ more or less detective methods, but there is no case recorded for over twelve months past which. calls for special work in this direction. So long as human nature is what it is dishonesty, is liable to occur either among servants'''or'the'users'of■ the trams, although it may happen very rarely. Some such system of inspection thoreforo may bo imperative at limes.