RAILWAY APPEALS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 March 1939, Page 6

RAILWAY APPEALS

DIVISION 1 MEMBER RESIGNS STAFF MALADMINISTRATION ALLEGED. REASONS FOR WITHDRAWING FROM BOARD. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Charges of staff maladministration in the railway service, because of which he tenders his resignation from the position of Division I representative on the New Zealand Government Railways Appeal Board, are made by Mr J. S. Roscoe in a letter to the Minister of Railways, Mr Sullivan. Mr Roscoe states that grave dissatisfaction with the present staff control and administration. is wide-spread in the service, mainly because of methods of promotion, long delays in dealing with grievances, and the management’s refusal of the right of appeal. “Please treat this letter as my resignation from the position of Division I representative on the New Zealand Railways Appeal Board,” he writes.

“My object is to bring under’ your notice for immediate action the very serious position that has developed through staff maladministration over a considerable period, with a view to securing justice for the officers whos.e interests I am elected to serve and securing the efficient administration of the service, that can be achieved only when this condition is fulfilled.

“In the light of more than five years’ experience as Division I representative on the appeal board, I am sure that very grave dissatisfaction with the present staff control and administration is widespread in the railway service.

“In the main this dissatisfaction arises from: — “(1) Methods of promotion. “(2) Long delays in dealing with grievances, including appeals arising out of the regrading of positions, which was due on April 1, 1937.-To date appellants have not received de? partmental replies to their statements of claim in reference to the value of positions, nor have any of these appeals been set down for hearing.' “(3) The management’s refusal of the right of appeal, specially in one case where a member has been dismissed, and the board, by a majority decision, has held that there is a

right of appeal. “Unless -the staff can have confidence in the impartial functioning of the'appeal board, the present serious unrest and lack of confidence will continue.

“My personal relations with my colleague on the appeal board are the happiest possible. “In order that those whom I represent may immediately become aware of the reasons for my withdrawal from this appeal board, I am handing a copy of this memorandum to the Press Association.” OFFICIAL COMMENT FUNCTIONS OF THE APPEAL BOARD. 1 MATTER OF DEPARTMENTAL CONCERN. WELLINGTON, This Day. The Assistant-General Manager of the New Zealand' Railways, Mr E. Casey, to whom Mr Roscoe’s letter was referred last evening, commented as follows: — “The officers of the service have their own organisation —the Railway Officers’ Institute —which is in touch with the Minister and 'the management regarding service conditions, etc, and is the official body which deals with any suggested alteration in the method of promotions. This does not come within the purview of Mr Roscoe’s position as a member representing the officers on the Government Railways Appeal Board, whose functions are of a purely judicial nature. “Mr Roscoe also deals at length with grievances, including appeals lodged. The assistant-staff superintendent and other officers have been engaged almost exclusively for many months past in dealing with appeal board work, and the fact that from the middle of February to date the appeal board has been sitting practically continuously is an indication that the department is doing its best to overtake the arrears of appeals that exist. “The department has no jurisdiction over the procedure of the appeal board, which is an independent body, and the procedure naturally has a bearing on the time taken to hear and dispose of appeals. The departmental regulations state that where a disagreement occurs between the department and the board as to the right of appeal the case is submitted to the Solicitor-General for his opinion. There has been no suggestion up to the present regarding the impartiality of the appeal board insofar as its functions are concerned. In fact, Mr Roscoe states that his personal relations with his colleagues on the board are the happiest possible. The department has had no previous intimation of Mr Roscoe’s action or intentions regarding his resignation from the board, though witbin the past week he has been in personal contact with the General Manager of Railways, Mr G. H. Mackley, and myself. “It is not understood why a matter of purely departmental concern should require to be ventilated in the Press by Mr Roscoe. The necessary arrangements are being made for the election of a successor rto Mr Roscoe on the board, but gazetted regulations require that a minimum of two months’ notice shall be given to the members concerned regarding the election and this will have the effect of holding up appeals of members of the first division for a further three months." SUPPORT FOR MR. ROSCOE. WELLINGTON RESOLUTION. WELLINGTON, This Day. A general meeting of the Wellington branch of the Railway Officers’ Institute last evening unanimously carried a motion whole-heartedly supporting Mr Roscoe in his action in resigning as first division representative on the Railways Board of Appeal and asked him to offer himself for re-election.