AN UNINTELLIGENT SYSTEM.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10021, 18 April 1910, Page 4

AN UNINTELLIGENT SYSTEM.

The "Railway Review," commenting on the "unintelligent system of punishment operating on the New Zealand railways," cites the following case:—"At a small station on the Waikato recently, a tablet porter, who had just been transferred to the station, turned the key the wrong way when switching out. He could not rectify his error, though he ' realised it instantly. This simple operation caused what is termed 'a tablet failure,' and, as a result the unfortunate man had to stay oh duty for 27£ hours extra. He had started at 8.30 a.m., and in consequence of his error, had to be on duty Bt the station until 4 p m. on the following day, his only break being four hours'rest between 4.30 and 8.30 I a.m. One would imagine that the anxiety and extra work would have been sufficient penalty for the tri : vial error, but the Department finds that there - *, have been a number of tablet failures, so their cumulative effect drops down upon the Waikato victim, who puts in his extra 27J hours without pay, and is also fined 255. The extra hours on duty constituted a heavy punishment for the offence, but the Department, without regard for this, imposes just the same penalty as in a case where the mistake had been treated quite lightheartedly." /