RAILWAY APPEAL BOARD

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2771, 15 May 1916, Page 7

RAILWAY APPEAL BOARD

By Teleiranh.—Press Association. t j rr ',-, christ church, May 14. Judge Haselden presided over a sitting of the Railway Appeal Board to-day. ' Eugmeman C. Keats appealed against dismissal from the Addington Workshops for allegedly refusing duty. Mr. J. M appeared lor the defendant, and Mr. Cameron for tho appellant. Evidence for the Department was to tho effect that on November, 20 Keats was ordered to repair a washout at a quarry siding at Cass. -He was then employed in the engine-room at Addington. This notice was given him at 2.15 p.m., and he was instructed to proceed to Cass by the 4 p.m.- train. However, he returned to the engine-room at 4.15 p.m., having missed the train. He explained that as there was no one at his house ho was unable to enter and obtain food or blan£'r , Tl \e excuse was considered unsatisfactory, and Keats was subsequently dismissed. Evidence -for'the' appellant submitted that Keats declined to go out to Cass an medical advice. Owing to the h'eat of the engine-room, he ran a great risk ol catching a chill. A medical certificate as to the harm done him by such changes previously was produced. . The. engineroom foreman suspended appellant in November last from duties, at Addington, and ordered him to proceed to diss" 'to undertake different work. He arrived therein. Hm day- followim*, and was immpuiacely taken ill with"in/luonze. Appelant liad been.twenty years in' the railway, service, and. was on the permanent fist. , Mr. M'Donald, for tho Department, submitted that discipline must be, preserved. The Department's business coiild not bo carried on if all the employees took up the attitude appellant had, and flatty 'refused to -go to 'Cass/ 'Die board' reserved its decision. '