TELEGRAPH MESSENGERS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 140, 13 June 1912, Page 3

TELEGRAPH MESSENGERS

DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS. [bi teleobaph— special to the post.] CHEISTCHUKCH, This Day. An endeavour to secure bright lads for the telegraph messienger service was disclosed in a letter received by the Education Board from the assistant inspector of post offices. The writer stated that he had been instructed io make an exhaustive enquiry into the selection, engagement, and training of telegraph messengers, and commended the object of the enquiry to the board's consideration. It was desired to obtain the assistance of headmasters in securing for the service boys who had passed the Sixth Standard with proficiency, and keep a register of eligible lads between, the ages , of thirteen and sixteen, as it was pointed out that a lad of thirteen might start at £31 a year, with uniform and overcoat, tho salary rising at the end of a year to £40, when the messenger could at any tine qualify for a cadetship at a salary of. £50, with regular annual increments to £220 in fourteen years, with promotion to higher grades according to energy and ability. It was most desirable that these lade, from whose ranks every office in, the service would eventually bo filled, should be selected from the best material by the Education, system, and the board was asked to co-operate, with this object in view. . Some doubt was expressed by members as to the advisability of taking the .proposal up, in view of tho pessibif ity of ita being a competitor with the movement to secure school teachers. Eventually the matter was referred to tho Appointment* Committee for a report. ,