RAILWAY TRIBUNAL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 202, 24 May 1944, Page 8

RAILWAY TRIBUNAL

Cabinet’s Selection Of Personnel

MAGISTRATE AS CHAIRMAN

The following are to be recommended by Cabinet to the Governor-General for appointment as members of the Government Railways Industrial Trbiumil:-— Mr. W. F. Stilwell, S.M. (chairman). Mr. E. Casey (representing the Minister of Railways). Dr. W. B. Sutch (rejn-c seating the Railway .Service organizations). ~ . The Minister of Railways, Mr. Semp.e, said yesterday that there appeared to be some' misunderstanding as to the tunctions of the Tribunal, compared with the Government Railways Board which was set up in 1931. The board was constituted to carry on, control, manage and maintain the Government railways; in other words, the service was divorced from Governmental control and handed over to an independent board comprising five persons, all of whom were appointed by the Government, the employees of the department having no voice in their selection, The board not only dealt with questions affecting the staff but also ad aspects of control and management.

The functions of the new tribunal were confined solely to staff matters affecting the employees of the Railways Department and it had no function whatever in connexion with the general control and administration of the railways service. This general control would remain the responsibility of the Minister and the General Manager. . . The Minister also said that provision was made for both the service organizations and the General Manager each to appoint assessors for each hearing by the tribunal. All parties would be entitled to be represented by advocates at the hearings of applications. The tribunal would sit from time to time to hear applications for an order of the tribunal in relation to the remuneration and condi tions of service of employees iii the department. Applications might be made by the service organizations and by the General Manager of Railways. The tribunal might also receive applications for it to make a recommendation to the Minister of Railways in relation to matters affecting the staff other' than remuneration and conditions of service. Mr. Stilwell, who was appointed to the magistracy in July, 1933. has acted as chairman of various judicial bodies, including the -War Pensions Appeal Board and public Inquiries into air accidents. For the past sx years he has been chairman of the Public Service Appeal Board, and is also chairman of the Film Industry Board in New Zealand. Mr. Casey was General Manager of Railways from February. 1940. till January ot this year, when he retired on superanuua.tion. Dr. Sutch. M.A., 8.C0m., Ph. D.. is an advisory economist attached to the Ministry of Supply. He ha-s been a member of Government economic committees, including the Monetary Commission. 1934. and the Guaranteed Prices Committee. 1930.