RAILWAY INQUIRY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3391, 21 January 1920, Page 5

RAILWAY INQUIRY.

{j‘f‘r’—#——-’—- YT UNEMECTE

THE A.S.R.S. WITHDRAWS.

THEY OBJECT TO HEARING IN CAMERA. c

WELLINGTON, J.-an. 20.

The Railway Service Inquiry Board

sat yesterday mm-ning’in order to hear evidence for the second division——the-.

Amalgamated Sociefy of Railway Servants. The case -of the first division

(clerical), and ithird divitsion (locomotive and engine-drivers) as decided when pl'el'iminar_\,' a.rrallgenlonts were made on Monday last, are to be heard later.

The Board consisted of His Honour Mr Justice Stringer, Mr A. W. Mouatt (I'eapl'esc}lting the first division), and Mr M. J. Mack (representing the

second division.) ‘ - Mr R. Hampton, president Of the Amalgamated Societygof Railway Servants, appeared on behalf of the railway servants, and Mr H. W-illiams for the Department. V PRESS TO BE EXCLUDED.

Mr Hampton asked if His Honour had decided. as had been stated in the press, that the proceedings of the commission should not be conducted

openly. . His Honour said. that ‘he had ruled to

that effect. Mr Hampton then asked if the Board considered it was bound by the order

of reference in so ruling. - The Chairnian replied that he considered fhe order of reference by its terms precluded the admission of either the press or the public. to ‘the inquiry; there was also the further ground that the fnquiry should be a, departmental one, purely and simply. Mr Hampton said he was instructed, that being the decision of the Board, to withdraw from the proceedings. Mr Harnptoii thereupon left the room.

His Honour said he would inform the Government of the position. The Board then decided to proceed with the nexf. section of the dispufe, as affecting the third division; in. order to give reasonable notice -to that branch of the service, the Board adjourned till Monday next, January 26th, at 10 ,a.m.

2-3040 9 irißh ocase‘?o, cmf etan STATEMENT ‘BY MR MASSEYL > “INQUIRY WILL GO ON.”

Mr Massey,“ Minister for Railways, interviewed last evening by a

New Zealand Times representative, said: “I have received no communication on the subject so far. No re-port has reached me yet.” Informed by our I'epl-esentative that the Amalagmated Soeiefy of Railway -Servants had withdrawn from the proceedings, as the press was not to be admitted to the inquiry, the‘ Prime Minister added: “I have no doubt that the President of the Poard (I\lr_ Justice Stringer) will report to me. In the meantime I take it the inquiry will go on with the others.”

Questioned by a Tirhes reporter at 3. late hour last night, Mr Massey said thaf the ‘Railway Inquiry Board is at present going on with the case of the‘ Locomotive Engine-drivers, Fil‘em€ll: and Cleaners’ Association. H 0 had nothing further -to say in regard t 0 the position taken up by the A.S-R-S-

A SIDELIG'-HT FROM HANSARD. V/Vhile His Honour I\lr Jusicte Stringer, holds that he is precluded by the Order of I'eferene.e from admvitfing tlie press fo the meetings of/she Railway Igquiry Board, Mr Massey definitely Stated in the House of Representatives on _Oe.tober 31st last. during a discussion on the G’0\’O"ll1'11Cllt Railways Amendment Bill, flzat he would leave the question of the admission of the press to the inquiry Ito be decided by the Board itself; -

The. foilowing is an extract from Hz“-.ns:lrd. page 1192:- I “The Rt. Hon. Sir J. G. Ward: VVil] the inquiry be open to the press‘? “The Rt’. Hon. Mr’ Massey: I shall leave the question“f6r the Board to decide.

“Mr Witty: That would give fair play to both sides. “The Right Hon. Mr Massey: I shall raise no objection if the Board wants the proceedings to be published‘. On the other‘ hand, if the Board wants the evidence 'in private, they are the better judgeéf”