DOUBLE-HEADED PENNY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10284, 20 May 1919, Page 6

DOUBLE-HEADED PENNY

RAILWAY DEPARTMENT AND LONGTON APPEAL CASE.

The Wellington branch of the Engineers', Firemen's, and Cleaners' Association passed a resolution on Sunday disapproving of the action of the Minister for Hallways in vetoing the unanimous decision of the Railway Appeal Board in the Longton case. Mr A. McArley, secretary of the E.F.C.A., said yesterday that the position was as though the men were playing a game of chance and the Railway Department held a double-headed penny. If the department made up its mind as to its attitude on cases, why not abolish the Appeal Board? The decision of the Minister to exerciso the veto in cases of discipline of such a nature as Mr Longton's was looked upon as being very far-reaching. It would mean, practically, the destruction of any confidence which the men had in the Appeal Board. However, the members of the E.F.O.A. never did havo'mueh confidence in the board, and would not have muoh confidence until its decisions wore final. "The exercise on this occasion of the Minister's veto on such flimsy grounds as lack of discipline leads the men to understand that all future similar cases will be treated likewise," stated Mr McArley.' "In the past the voto has only been used when it was a question of public safety and wrong interpretation of the Railways Act. It will, therefore, be clearly understood why strong animosity is being shown to the. latest decision. The reason given on this occasion is right away from reasons given in the past."