OFFICIAL LISTENING

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 62, 6 December 1929, Page 10

OFFICIAL LISTENING

CONSTERNATION IN AUCKLAND POST OFFICE SOME FORTY EMPLOYEES INVOLVED Dominion Special Service. Auckland, December 5. Consternation has been caused at the Auckland Post Office-as a result of the inquiry launched by two inspectors fallowing listening-in to conversations over the telephone used by members of the operating staff while the Takapuna Jockey Club’s meeting was in progress last Saturday and Monday. About forty men are involved, which comprises something like half the staff of the operating room. It is alleged that in addition to having a wire with which to listen-in, an officer was stationed close to the telephone which was used and took the names of the persons using the telephone and also the times at which it was used. This information was then compared with the times taken by the officer on the listening-in telephone. One official was charged with using the telephone for betting on a large number of occasions on the two days, and it appears that he was merely ringing up on behalf of others. In two instances solicitors have been retained to defend the officials concerned at the inquiry. Purely Departmental. The investigation is purely a departmental one, and the method adopted is for the inspectors to endeavour to obtain written statements. It is alleged that telephone conversations are not evidence, according to a regulation, unless absolute proof can be had of the person at the telephone being identified. In order’ to facilitate betting telegrams on race days skeleton forms are prepared by departmental officers. Although the operating room at the telegraph office is the only one at the moment involved, suggestions have been made that listening-in has been resorted to in connection with other Government Departments., An ex-officer of the Post and Telegraph Department stated this morning that the present inquiry would be the usual nine days wonder, with perhaps a transfer or two. but otherwise nothing would be done. He commented on the fact that a tremendous lot of business went through the telegraph office on all race days, and in the ordinary way the Department put every facility in the way of those who wished to send telegrams. He referred to the temptation that stared operators in the face on such occasions. Any man who thought that he knew “a good thing” would be inclined to have a bet on it.