RAILWAY APPEALS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 151, 22 March 1939, Page 10

RAILWAY APPEALS

Institute To Ask For Conference MR. ROSCOE’S RESIGNATION Instigated by the resignation of Mr. J. S. Roscoe from the position of first division representative on the Railways Appeal Board, the New Zealand Railway Officers’ Institute proposes to. ask the Minister of Railways, Mr. Sullivan, for a conference of representatives of those interested in the administration of first-division staffs. In tendering his resignation to the Minister, Mr. Roscoe said that grave dissatisfaction with the present staff control and administration was widespread in the service, mainly because of methods of promotion, long delays In dealing with grievances and the management’s refusal of the right of appeal. Mr. Roscoe’s resignation was considered at a meeting of the executive committee of the institute on Monday bight, and yesterday the committee Issued the following statement: — “The committee was not consulted by Mr. Roscoe before his resignation was tendered; this action was taken entirely on his own initiative. Mr. Roscoe is, of course, not responsible to the controlling body of the institute for any action, he may take as division-one elective representative on the appeal board. “The executive committee is not aware of the full reasons which prompted Mr. Roscoe to make some of the statements contained in his letter of resignation. It is concerned, however, that serious dissatisfaction exists throughout the officered section of the Railway service, and that dissatisfaction is mainly caused by a deep-rooted feeling that the Minister, of Railways and the general management are not displaying a reasonably sympathetic attitude toward representations made by the institute respecting various matters affecting members of the service. “The committee considers that no good purpose would be served at this stage by giving publicity in detail to such matters. It proposes to request the Minister of Railways to convene an early conference of interested parties. If this course is followed the executive committee is of the opinion that tire many matters now disturbing the minds of railway officers can be amicably solved.”