LETTERS TO PRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 June 1939, Page 5

LETTERS TO PRESS

RAILWAYMEN RESENT INVESTIGATION VENTILATION OF GRIEVANCES. PROTEST TO PRIME MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 19. » Resentment among the Division I .staff of the Railways Department in Christchurch over the reported crossexamination of some i.i the members about anonymous correspondence which appeared in the -press" during April is acute dial. a special meeting of tlie flailway Officers' Institute has been called for Wednesday night. The stall' administration of the railways was criticised and widespread dissatisfaction was expressed in letters which were signed by "Grade 7,” and "Another Grade 7." and appeared respectively on April 3 and April 20. It is said among railwaymen that the staff superintendent. Mr A. Urquhart, was sent specially to Christchurch to investigate- the sources of the letters, and that several members of the clerical staff were interviewed by 'him at the office of the district traffic manager. “There are good grounds for the report that member.-; are very resentful,” said the secretary of the Christchurch branch, Mr .1. S. Roscoe, this afternoon to a reporter, who was referred to the secretary by the men who were reported to have been interrogated. "It is also correct that a special general meeting of members will consider the matter on Wednesday, and the question of any publicity will be decided al that meeting.” Replying to questions, Mr Roscoe said the resentment of members had been communicated already -to the Prime Minister and also to the Minister of Railways. The Prime Minister, said Mr Roscoe, had not yet had a reasonable opportunity to reply.

SERVICE RIGHTS. CRITICISM OF STAFF ADMINISTRATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.! CHRISTCHURCH. June 19. The letter to Mr Savage called attention to,"the irresponsible activities of persons who should be responsible officers of the State." and made a charge that interrogation by a staff officer from Wellington was interference with the civil rights of public servants. Even under section 59 of the Finance Act, 1931, which had been repealed by the Labour Government, the action of any public servant in writing the letters which had caused head office to act could not. be challenged, said the branch secretary. That clause provided for the dismissal without, right of appeal of any servant who criticised the Government in a manner which would tend to bring it into disrepute. “These letters criticised staff administration, not the Government,” said Mr Roscoe, who added that so far as the branch knew, their authorship had not been established.