"NOT CASUAL"'

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 35, 10 February 1926, Page 11

"NOT CASUAL"'

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In this evening's issue of your paper I notice a prominent position allotted to a statement by the Post-master-General, headed "Not Casual," being a statement vindicating the Post Office regulations and system in connection with the recent Baume-Smith fraud. May I be permitted a little of your valuable space to say a word on behalf of the "human factor"? It cannot be denied that the regulations are adequate^ and follow those governing commercial * banks. Then ts to the system. Under this head must be considered the whole of the policy of the Post and Telegraph Department as formulated by the controlling officers —that is to say, those responsible for the system and regulations. One item in, this policy mu»t be the selection of staff. Each branch of the service should have specially-selected officers who are suited and trained for that particular branch. The banking branch should hay« officers suited for the transaction »f banking business. This leads me to ask the following questions:— • i (1) Is it not a fact that every -person joining the Post and Telegraph Department must begin as a messenger —usually a telegraph messenger! (2) If so, does the Honourable Minister consider that by this means the best type of boy is obtained for the banking business? (3) Is it not a fact that postmen, mail-sorters, and telegraph operators are liable at any time to be transferred to the banking branch? If so, does the Honourable Minister consider this system fair to the officers concerned? (4) Would, it .not be expedient to treat the banking branch as a separate institution staffed by suitable clerks, starting as cadets to be specially trained in banking business? - (5) It has been mentioned during the recent trial that an undue wait is necessary each time a withdrawal is made. Is the staff adequate? I have no doubt that in this instance the clerks were negligent in the carrying out of thoir instructions, but when the "disciplining" takes place, will the heads of the Department pause to consider the possible defects in their staffing "system"?—l am, etc., EX-CIVIL SERVANT. 9th February.