LETTER CARRIERS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1913, Page 11

LETTER CARRIERS

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— Having been kind enough recently to publish matter dealing with the affairs of our local postmen, and the' statements issued in reply by the department, will you pleaße insert this in order that your readers, whom I Venture to think a-re not without some interest in "the men delivering their mail matter, may learn somethingof them. On Friday last tho letter carrier? staff received instructions to assemble at a stated time for the purpose, as , they thought, to form and give their jdea3 as to the suitability of a now shako to be exhibited, and for their wear. The article in question, as a matter of fact, was thought by them, generally, to be good. But what their opirtiotiß are worth may be judged by what; took place. ■ The chief postmaster, after introducing a gentleman to explain the advantages of the helmet, very soon took hte departure, though before 'leaving he twico stated the following :— "You are clearly to understand that that shako before you is the ono that the department had decided upon for you to wear." Clearly then, the men who have to Wear them had absolutely no option in the matter. Though at first sight the Wearing of any particular hat seems a Bmall affair, to the post men it has be* cotne a matter of importance. The question of head dreee has been a very vexed on 6, and *I think it id the autocratic methods adopted by the department in this and .other matters which to a large extent is responsible for the men deciding to ventilate their troubles through the medium of the press. The men quite realise that they can 'clear out" if not satisfied, as they are told occasionally. That, however, is only one phase of the case. Some have cleared out, the real reason being that the salary of £50 and £60 per annum did not leave them cjmte enough to speculate in such commodities as Union Steam' ship Co.'fl shares, T&ranaki oilfields, etc. Amongst the men are some who have many years of good service to their credit, doing work that, while not heavy manually, _ at the earns time entails a great strain upon the legs, feet, and sys^ tern generally. It has to bo performed in all weathers, and' requires their attend* ance _at various houra. On ordinary mornings they are due at 7 o'clock, often as early as 6 and 6M X and at Christmas time for several mornings as early_ as 5. Please pause for a moment to think of the walk for those men who aro living at Island Bay, Kilbirnie, Miramar, etc., on these vory early mornings. At least one evening per week, wi.th very rare exceptions, the men have to return foi 1 evening duty. During 1 the current week lfe will probably be two, and occ<i&ionalJy it is three. In the 'latter case it generally means Saturday evening broken into. Until recently men bad also to give up a Saturday afternoon when their turn came round, though this was only on an. average of about one in three months. At all titnes the staff have to display, courtesy and tact in thoir dealings, with the public. This they quite realise thpy ought to: nevertheless there are times when to do this is more difficult than some people would suppose. Absolute honesty is the ver3' essence of their business. They have to take up other rounds sometimes at thirty minutes' notice, be ready at all times to cope with rushes such as business firms circularising, candidates' electioneering, etc. Are men who do their very utmost to carry out their work as faithfully as men can expected to remain silent when, at times, over the veriest trifle, they nre po spoken to? A good doal hns appeared in the prttt* about the views of telegraph operators in r.egard to certain tests they are required to pas* before receiving thoir annual rise<?. Tho letter-carrier k in, the Some position.. Before he con reccivo hi» -annual £10 increase he has now to pads a double-sided lest, ono part of which* in all probability, would bo beyond the, capabilities of some of the officers continually engaged in tho particular clasa of work, <md certainly -would prove too much, for those who aro responsible, for bringing il about. What are the testa, that the higher graded and paid officers have to conquer? I, certainly think that each yearjs (rood service should earn tho postman his £10 iiio'eare without being required lo puss a tfesl of Ihlft nature. Tho«* iv charge of th© various btaWis of thp Department misfht, perhaps with udvautuge to the. Department uud ,

men, insist upon the improvement in work and general conduct of a few possible delinquents rather than be co ready with remarks of the '"Clenr Out" nature.— l am, etc., A'HM A WATCHING ON 'EM. 24fh February. 1913.