THE P. AND T. CIRCULAR

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 124, 28 May 1930, Page 13

THE P. AND T. CIRCULAR

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I lead with a .'considerable amount of interest that article in your issue of the.26th.'instant tlealing with the above. I Would like to .state, that I was employed in the Department' as a temporary lineman "for 'a period of four years." In.Jiine,;i92B; along with, a gang of other liiiemen, in charge of a line foreman, L was sent from Wellington to Pahautanui in ari open lorry to 'carry out certain line repair, Work.' The weather was exceedingly cold and wet, and. owing to the. fact. that the work to be done was of such a nature that it could. not .be postponed, all of the men engaged f on" the;, job, including myself,: received a 'thorough wetting, and I was chilled' right ..'.througE'jW arriving back ,in •Wellington. . I became ill. during the night, -and within a short time was ordered -into hospital - with a severe attack of pneumonia. It was nine 'months before I .was certified to be fit for work, ■and' during this period I received: no,, pay 'from the Woparment, and my, wife had to manage tho .best way she could. -'•■ ■ ,

My Departmental controlling officer jvisited me regularly,- however, and showed mo many personal kindnesses, although .he. was reticent .about thejTeasons for my pay being stopped. When able to dp so, I naturally reported for duty in the Linesmen ?s Branch of the Post and Telegraph Department, but to my astonishment I wa,s told that I could not be given a start, as my-em-ployment cfiased when-I'went Off" duty sick. ; :, -'■. :■ ■';• ■-■'.-■AC v/~y> ' . ' '

When. I made fliriher .representations to- the Department I was informed that my name (would be placed at.tho bottom of the waiting list of .applicants seeking employment,: and I would be given consideration if, arid wh^n, the Department wanted more men. In short, I had to take my chances-with iiliew applicants, .-notwithstanding my previous experience -and, the-fact, that my illness was- attributable" to^-the conditionsuunderr r which" I,hadV^ to -work. Weeks of waiting proved of no avail, and I eventually:secured other employment. ..' :. ' ...

From my own experience, therefore, I know only too well that the terms of the circular exposed in your, eoliinins are rigidly applied -to■■•:workmen unfortunato enough to fall ill,.iithe employ of the P.. arid. T.. Department, and I will undertake /to., say ...that, there are many like myself who must feel indignant at the feeble disclaimer now issued by the Hon.. G.,.-W, "'Forbe's.-^I am, etc., . . ..,,,■

■E.^WEST.