DISMISSAL.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19813, 28 December 1929, Page 14

DISMISSAL.

TELEGRAPH OFFICERS PUNISHED. BETTING BY TELEPHONE ALLEGED. [THE PEBSB Special Serrict] AUCKLAND, December 27. I Notice of their di-mi.-sai was received by six members ol the operating room staff at the Chief Post Office in Auckland following the enquiry instituted by the Post and Telegraph Department into the conduct ot nine officers who, it was alleged, had used office telephones in making bets on races at the Takapuna Jockey Club's Meeting on November 30th and December 2nd. The enquiry was held in the Magistrate's Court by Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., and was closed to the Prefes and public. The men who have been dismissed, four of whom arc operators and two distributors, have been in the service between 15 and 34 years, one of them being due to retire in 14 months' time on superannuation. The amount the men have paid into the Superannuation Fund during their period of service may be forfeited should the Department so decide, and it is not known what the position is in this respect. Allegations against the men were made after two Departmental inspectors bad listened in through secret wires on the telephones in a telegraph office, and had taken notes with which they confronted the members of the staff. About 40 officers were questioned, and a number of these admitted breaches of the regulations. Nine denied the allegations which were made against them, and the matter was placed before the secretary of the department, Mr G. McNamara, who was unable to decide the men's guilt or otherwise on the facts in his possession, and ordered a magisterial enquiry. This enquiry was held by Mr Hunt about three weeks ago, and lasted for four days. Each case was heard separately. The men were represented by Mr Allan Moody, assisted by Mr \V. H. Brown, an executivemember of the Post and Telegraph Employees' Association, while the Department was represented by Mr V. B. Meredith, Crown Solicitor, and Mr Ogilvie, one of the Department inspectors concerned. A large number of witnesses were called, and at the conclusion of the enquiry the Magistrate sent his finding in each case to the secretary of the Department. The penalty in the cases of those men who were found guilty rested in the hands of Mr McNamara, who today gave his decision in the instances of the six men who were dismissed. The penalty in the cases of other men who admitted their guilt vhen they were confronted, and have not yet been punished, has yet to be made known direct to the men con eerned by Mr McNamara, who is at present in Wellington. In addition to dismissal, the manner in which he can punish misconduct includes the imposition of fines, re-grading to a lower level, and forfeiture of leave of absence. It was stated that the six officers concerned intended to take the matter a further stage by placing it before the Post and Telegraph Appeal Board. They have thirty days in which to send in their applications to be heard, and these are forwarded to the Secretary, together with the grounds o-' appeal. The secretary is bound to send the applications to the Board, together with his answer to the cases. The Board usually sits shortly after an application has been sent in, and it comprises a Magistrate, a representative appointed by the Department, and an employees' representative, who has been chosen by ballot to sit. The appellants may appear either in person or by representative, and are allowed to hear the evidence brought against the application, which is led by the Crown Solicitor or some other counsel appearing for the Department in opposition to the appeal.