RAILWAY SOCIETY.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 854, 31 March 1903, Page 3

RAILWAY SOCIETY.

BE MAE >i ABLE GBIEVANCES.

Per Press Association.; Dunedin, last night At a meeting of the Otago branch of tho Amalgamated Kailway Servants Society the following resolutions wero passed : (1) That the meeting views with alarm the growing tendoncy on the part of tho department to indict hoavy punishments for nominal offences, and that it respectfully bogs to ontcr a strong protest against tho practico, as it dooms such a course os inconsistent with tho spirit of justico that should govern tho management in its dealings with tho mou, and because it is conducive to suppression of reports of minor offences, and has a' tondency to strain tho good relations hitherto oxisting between the department and its employees ; (d) that tho meeting is strongly of opinion that in tho interest of justico and fair treatment, tho second division should have a representative selected from tho ranks of its own members on the departmental boards of inquiry, tho right to select such representative to rest with tho member or members interested in each ease ; (3) that the practico of suspending men before inquiry, particularly in cases of fatal accident, is held to be wrongful in principle, and should be discontinued, inasmuch as it is liable to prejudice tho cases of mombers immediately concerned, and discredit them in tho eyes of tho public; (4) that it bo pointed ont to the management that a great deal of moutal worry and anxiety is caused by what members consider unreasonably long delay in holding departmental and appeal board inquiries, and in the cpmmunication of tho decisions of the game'to members concerned.