POSTAL DEPARTMENT

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 137, 6 December 1918, Page 10

POSTAL DEPARTMENT

OPPOSITION TO A BILL. "POLITICAL REWARDS." In moving the second reading of the Post and Telegraph Bill in the Legislative Council yesterday, Sir Francis 801 l said that there had been a considerable amount of dissatisfaction in the Post ar.d Telegraph Department, and this Bill was introduced to deal with certain grievances. It was a departure, he sa.id, in some respects from the Public Service Act. Sir Walter Buchanan protested against the hurried passage of legislation reversing important measures of a previous Government, This Bill he regarded as a reversion to the system of political rewards. ■ ■ Other Councillors joined in the protest agninst hurry, and against the departure, .without due' consideration, from the principles of the Public Ser*ice Act. Sir Francis Bell said he hoped members would not hinder the passage of a beneficial mrasure which the Post and' Telegraph Department had been led to expect. The second reading was agreed to. In Committee a- protest was made against the clause providing' for the es lablishmem of a Post and Telegraph Promotion Board.' Sir Francis 801 l stated that the weakness oF the present system was that the Appeal Board might reverse the decision of the Commissioner. There must be some ruling hodv. and therefore the Minister would decide in the event of a disagreement between the board and the Commissioner. . The Bill was passed through tlio final stages.