APPEAL DISALLOWED ~

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 899, 17 February 1930, Page 8

APPEAL DISALLOWED ~

DISMISSAL OF SIX TELEGRAPHISTS'

BOARD’S DECISION QUERIED

“We are very disappointed at -t decision of the board, and we do n intend to let the matter drop w think the dismissed men had a strrm* case for a successful appeal.” So said a member of the Post ina Telegraph Association at Auckland i a Sun man today, in c-rincisine ,v adverse decision of the Post and Tek! graph Appeal Board, which has di allowed the appeals of six members ni the Auckland telegraph staff, as T J ported in Saturday’s Sun. The six men concerned were dis charged recently after a departmental inquiry into charges connected with betting. The sitting of the Appeal Board, which commenced on Thursday and concluded on Friday, was presiaA over by Mr. E. C. Cutten, S M and was not open to either Press or pub lie. The decision of the hoard was con veved to the appellants by post on Saturday, and ran as follows;—“In re . ference to your appeal against dismis. sal from the Post and Telegraph ser vice, I am directed to inform you that the following decision has now been given—appeal dismissed.” The Appeal Board consisted ot the following;—Mr. J. Burns, re presenting the men; Mr. A. Shanks, a superannuated officer: and Mr. E. C. Cutten S. Mr. Treadwell and Mr. it. p Hunt (Auckland) wore counsel for both the dismissed men and the P and T. Officers’ Association. Mr. V R. Meredith. Crown Prosecutor, represented the department. Mr. Treadwell left for Wellington last evening. In a statement he expressed his astonishment at the juirk decision of the board. He said he did not think it possible for the board to consider the six cases in a few hours, though this had apparently been done. To restore confidence and see ths.t justice was done a Royal Commission should investigate the whole affair. In any case he would see the association executive, and a decision would be made as to w T hat action was to be taken. There was a possibility of an action for wrongful dismissal. He had offered the chairman of the board a verbatim report of the crossexamination of a departmental investigation, which was of the greatest importance. The chairman had said he would be pleased to have it, bit the board’s decision came before it could be prepared. This sudden action was beyond his comprehension. In the opinion of Mr. H. H. Brown. Dominion organiser of the Post anil Telegraph Employees’ Association, th« service would be far from satisfied with the board’s decision. It loosed as if the cases were dealt with in a perfunctory manner. Local opinion runs high. “It is peculiar that the Press and public were not allowed to be present at the sitting of the board,” said a P. and T. Association representative to a Sun man today. “W T e understood the Press w-ottld be present. It seems probable that the department brought influence to bear to keep the matter from becoming public in case anything detrimental to the department came out. We are in entire agreement with Mr. Treadwell as to the amazing speed with which the Appeal Board gave its decision.” He added that it was probable that a special meeting of the P. and T. Association -yould be called tomorrow evening to consider what further steps should be taken.