RAILWAY INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 111, 4 February 1920, Page 8

RAILWAY INQUIRY

CLAIMS OF FIRST DIVISION PROCEEDINGS FURTHER ADJOURNED The New Zealand Railway Inquiry Board sat yesterday morning to consider the coso of tho First Division of tho Railway Senice. His Honour Mr. Justico Stringer presided, and associated with him as assessors were Mr. H. D. Mouatt (representing llhe Railway Department), and Mr. G. Mathewson (representing the Railway Officers' Institute). Mr. J. Mac Donald (assistant general manager) appeared ss advocate for the Department, and Mr. R. C. Morgan (general secretary of tho Officers' Institute) as advocate for tho railway servants of tho First Division. In consequence of the executive of tho institute desiring to hold a full meeting before proceeding, Mr. Morgan applied for a further adjournment. He pointed out that certain members of tho executive had not yot arrived, and without them it was not desirable that the meeting should proceed. Mr. MacDonaJd did not view the application favourably. He remarked that the procedure suggested appeared to bo different from that adopted in tho case of tho other divisions of the service. He had understood that tho gentlemen to „ whom Mr.* Morgan referred were merely to come forward ns witnesses. The proceedings were interfering with tho work of tho Department, and it was therefore his wish that the case should be proceeded with at once. His Honour said it appeared to him that under the guiso of witnesses the gentlemen referred to would bo acting as advocates for the different branches. It was explained by tho president of tho institute that a full attendance was needed at the executive meeting to consider tho reply of the Department to their demands. After further discussion, tho Chairman said that in Oho circumstances the adjournment would be granted, though t'i? procedure was somewhat novel. While he did not wish to place any obstacle in the way of the institute, he did not expect a number of witnesses to bo called to make statements like advocates. The board would adjourn until Thursday morning, and in* passing he expressed the hope that the proceedings would be abbreviated as a result of the conference. The board then rose.