TRAMWAY APPEAL BOARD

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2476, 1 June 1915, Page 9

TRAMWAY APPEAL BOARD

A MOTORMAN'S CASE. A sitting of the Tramway Appeal Board was held in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. Mr. W. G. iliddell, S.M., presided, and the other members of the board were: J. 11. Palmer (representing the City Tramways) and Jl. Wlialen (representing the employees). The business before the Court was the appeal of Motormau William John Hilder against the action of the authorities in withholding his promotion. As the ground of his appeal, he stated (hat he had been employed in the service continuously since" Juno 30, 1001 (except for three months in 1905), and that, ho held an unblemished record. He complained particularly that another motorman with less service had been promoted to the position of inspector. Mr. 15. G. Jellicoe appeared for Hilder, while the City Solicitor (Mr. J. O'Shea) appeared for the Tramway authorities. Evidence led in support of the appellant's case showed that he had years ago been detailed to instruct other men in their duties. He had in May, ltl3, filled the position of acting dispatcher, which position was generally regarded as a step towards promotion. For the Tramway tuthorities it was said that the management (from ten years' experience of'lliidor) were satistied that he was not of the correct temperament to fill the position of inspector It was considered that he would conie into conflict witn the public, and would cause friction among the men. Evidence was tondered by several witnesses. „ , , _ . The decision of the, Appeal Board was that Ilikler had not lodged V.ia appeal within time, but apart from that he had not discharged the onus cast upon hi in to show that, lie was superior to the employeo of whose, promotion he complained. 'Moreover, he was lacking in the temperament necessary ill one holding the position of inspector. At the samo time the board recognised that the appeal had been made in the holiest, boliof that Hilder had secured something to entitle him to promotion when he acted as dispatcher, and bis failure' on tins appeal should not prejudice him if he hccanie eligible lor promotion at a future date.