HOME SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 33, 10 February 1919, Page 7

HOME SERVICE

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —From observations taken nightly from your paper, .numerous protests have been received by you from men employed on the Home Service branch of the Defence Department regarding the , unfair treatment-meted-out to them of late. May I be allowed to enter yet one more protest on behalf of myself and numerous others. employed by the Adjutant General's branch to which ' I belong. A few days prior to the Christinas holidays, and by way of acknowledgment for past faithful service, Captain Cossgrove, Director of Recruiting, called all of his staff together and personally thanked one and all for "the steadfast manner in which they had stood to him throughout the past." At the same time he informed us that, although our services were, in a number of cases, available for- the duration- of the war, etc., he, Captain Cossgrove, seeing that the Hear future would mean a considerable retrenching of his staff, would not<stand in the way of any member who Wt with an opportunity of bettering his or her position, by refusing to release that member. How far I this promise has been kept will be ! gleaned from the fact that in view of this gentleman's word, together with the prospect of an early dismissal, quite a number of the staff have looked around and actually Becured positions for their future welfare, only to find on applyiug to be released from duty that the application is refused by the Assistant Director of Recruiting," with a- curt note to renew the application a month, hence.. By that time the accepted position will have been filled, and the unfortunate applicant will, in all probability be informed by this same courteous Assistant Director, that, in view of the closing down of the Director of Recruiting branch at the end of March, on which date the lease of the present premises expire, and it has been definitely decided will not be renewed, the services of the majority of the present clerks wijl not be required fucthw.

Now surely, Sir, you will agree' with mo that this is far from playing the game, and if you could secure any information and reason for such treatment, you will earn the gratitude of myself, and quite a number of others on the present staff, who, having secured their future, have applied for release or transfer, only to be turned down with a curt note to renew the application in a month's time when it will be "considered"—which does not mean granted. —I am, etc.,

HOME SERVICE.

[On the above letter being submitted to the Director of Recruiting, he stated that it was quite correct he made the offer reported to his staff, but when he did so, he did not anticipate that there would be such a rush of resignations, that to have granted all those'sent in would have meant that that branch would have been unable to carry on or complete its work. Recently 120,000 files came in requiring to be dealt with, and in view of this, and the fact that the branch was to be closed down on 31st March, it became necessary for him to retain the- services of members of the staff, and to issue instructions accordingly. He regretted this if disappointment' or inconvenience were caused, but he could not help himself. Any genuine case, however, of where a man had a. job to go to, would; be considered on its merit"l