RETURNING OFFICER’S STAFF

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21727, 9 March 1936, Page 8

RETURNING OF FICER’S STAFF

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS, Sir,—Can you tell me why capable unemployed men do not get employed for the election. My husband is experienced and capable, a ratepayer, and has been unemployed for a long time. He has applied twice, and has been told his applications would be favourably considered, but nothing doing. Yet on election day I will see in our booth school teachers and married women with husbands ip work, and men in permanent positions. I saw that last time. I trust our new Government will rectify this, and give the man who wants work the first choice.—Yours, etc.. RATEPAYER. March 5, 1936. : L“From more than 600 applicants I have to chose 250," said Mr Albert Freeman, Returning • Officer, when asked to comment on this letter, “and naturally I endeavour to select what I consider are the best qualified persons, Some I reject because of infirmities, others because of their age—many are old age pensioners—and while some are fully capable, others, in my judgment, are not, I do not contend for one instant that this is a perfect selection, but I endeavour to get sufficient notes at the time of the application to enable me to deal justly and fairly, from my point of view, with the whole selection. If mistakes have crept in, I regret them, but I do all that I possibly can to ensure a good and capable staff compatible with the suitability of the applicants. Every application is acknowledged and the selection of the applicants is a most difficult task to accomplish satisfactorily."]