RAILWAY PROMOTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1968, 27 January 1914, Page 6

RAILWAY PROMOTIONS.

A POINT OF GREAT INTEREST.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, January 26. ■The question of the Railway Department's right to confine the sphere of an officer's promotion to the branch in which lie happens to have been placed is one- df .'widespread interest throughout ; tlie. railway service. It was discussed before 'the North' Island. Railway Appeal Board when the appeal was heard 0f... Percival E. Fletcher, clerk in the 'district: engineer's office, Auckland, \ against the promotion of certain officers before him. The board consisted cf Messrs. W. R. Haselden, S.M. (chairman), C. P. Ryan (First Division), and J. Clmrchouse. Mv. , ■ H.. Davidson anpeared for-thc Department, aiid Mr. E. Casey for the appellant. ! ' Mr. Casey said that the appellant had ]6 years' service and an excellent record. Hβ was receiving, the maximum salary for' Grade 10, and had been recommended consistently for promotion, but men lower in the'grade had been promoted over his head, and he considered .that his position and prospects had been ■materially affected thereby/ Appellant was in the maintenance b'rnncli, and lie contended that no inquiries had been made, to ascertain if lie had the requisite ability to carry out tho duties of another branch. Mr! Davidson said that it was impossible for the Department to uromoto every man ns his name appeared on the list without having regard to the branch which' the man was in. and his suitability for a position. When a vacancy occurred in tho maintenance branch, appellant, whose ability wae not questioned at all, would be promoted. The chairman: In other words, the Department claims the right to specialise. Mr. Casey said that occasions occurred when ■ men were transferred from branch to branch. He asked if a lino was now to be rigidly drawn. Tho chairman remarked that on account of the growth «f the Department the interchange of officers from branch to branch would become well nigh impossible. ' After evidence had been taken, Mr. Casev said that tlio whole service was deeply interested in the matter, for it was regarded as an indication that th> Department was reverting to the old system of branoli classification in vogue ill 1902. Decision was reserved by the hoard.