Progress League and Postal Department.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17227, 18 August 1921, Page 6

Progress League and Postal Department.

The resolution that was carried at yesterday's conference regarding the "cut'' in the .railway 'and mail services, oppressing the hope that the Governmjant ■would see its way to accept the Progress League's offer to maintain the mail services in districts affected by the reductipnajn the railway service, reflects the opinion of the community,: and especially of that portion of it living 5n the districts concerned. So long as the "cut" ia not maintained too far into the spring, there will be little cavilling on the part of the public at the policy by which the Railway Department (hopes to save some money. The urgent need for economy in departmental administration has been so strongly stressed by farmers' representatives that farmers as a class could not. consistently complain when an effort ia made to .give effect to their expressed wish. Country residents Would even, we believe, put up without complaint with the inconvenience of a reduced mail service if satisfied that such a reduction-was unavoidable in the interests of economy. It would be unreasonable to expect the Post Office to increase its expenditure just because the Railway Department was trying to economise—such, aa action would defeat the purpose of the latter. It ia the recognition of this fact, we believe, that prevents the Postal Department from accepting the Progress League's offer. That offer was stated at yesterday's conference to be Unconditional, but, as a matter of fact, it is not absolutely so. The League's, communications with the Secretary of the Post Office on the subject have always carried at least the suggestion of a condition. In its telegram of last Saturday, for instance, it stated that, "pending your further " consideration. " (the League) is prepared to maintain " services at own expense." On Monday it reiterated its offer, adding: "Question of remuneration will not be "raised 'unless Department pays for . "' special services elsewhere. In mean"time, Canterbury prepared to. help "neraelf." And on Tuesday, in reply to a statement by the Secretary of the Post Office that the offer could not be accepted unless made unconditionally, the League replied that the offer was unconditional pending the Department's consideration of policy, and that the ■ League, "would only expect reasonable) " remuneration for those services which " in the ordinary course would have to '' be provided by the Department." We have not the slightest complaint against tho Progress League for adopting this attitude. It was perfectly reasonable* on its part to expect that if services such as it offered were organised in other centres and were subsidised b/the 7 Dei partment, it should be'placed on the same footing. But an offer bearing this qualification cannot accurately be described as unconditional. The League had, of course, to consider its finances; at the same time it was, and is, prepared to do the work for nothing so long as no other organisation is paid for similar work; therefore, it must feel tolerably satisfied that it could finance its proposed enterprise. We suggest "tihat the League 'should make the Postal Department an absolutely? unconditional ouot, unhampered

in the least degree by any contingent responsibility upon tho Department. If it asked the Post Office straight out to be allowed to carry the mails at its own expense during the continuance of the cut, and stopped at that, it is difficult to believe that the Department could find any excuse for declining the offer. We assume, of course, that the Postal Department is in earnest in wishing not to spoil the Railway Department's attempt to save money by adding to its own expenditure. The Secretary has mentioned that "in a few isolated "cases the Department may have "to contribute to the cost of "mail services." Wo are entitled to know what theso cases are, and why favour may be shown to some districts that is denied to others. All should certainly be treated alike. We believe, however, that \if the League did as we have suggested, it would receiise sufficient financial assistance to enable it to cany out the work without crippling itself. The community is not unmindful of the services that tfhe League has rendered, and by coming to tlie rescue of the country districts in tho manner suggested, while at the same time assisting the Government in its retrenchment policy, it would establish a claim upon the public which tfhe latter would not hesitate to honour. \ ]