POSTAL SERVICE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 September 1924, Page 7

POSTAL SERVICE.

PLEA FOR POLITICAL INFLUENCE

CIRCULAR TO MESSAGE BOYS

CANVASSING MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.

A number of conies were seen on Friday of a circular from the Postal Officers’ Association, addressed to message boys in the department, urging them to seek a betterment of their conditions by political influence (states the Dominion). Scarcely a week after the in the Houses of Representatives in regard to the loyalty of members of the Postal and Telegraph Department a multiscript circular from the Postal Officers’ Association was received by message boys in the employ of the department in various parts of the Dominion.

The circular advised the youths to protest to their local member of Parliament against the reductions in taxation proposed by the Government, and to put forward their case for promotion or increased pay. The recipients, the majority of whom are scarcely emerged from boyhood, were told that the. taxation reductions proposed were a gift to the wealthy, while they were to Ire allowed to continue in receipt of pay that was not commensurate with their status or service, and not sufficient to guarantee them a living wage. They were counselled to state that they were disappointed with their lot in the service.

The circular enclosed a draft letter for the youths to send ’to their local member, setting out their claims. It concluded by making an offer to the member of Parliament that, if he helped the applicant, he would receive help in return. \ Enquiry at Parliament House disclosed the fact that members of Parliament are now .receiving letters from message boys couched in identically the same terms as the form of letter enclosed in the circular. It is understood that the matter will be ventilated in the House of Representatives. The provisions of the law regarding political influence in the Public Service of this and other Dominions is very clear. It is likely, however, that it is not known to these young men, who have possibly not been long enough in the service of the State to become aware of its signficance. The fact that only a week has transpired since the receipt of the crcuiars in many cases, and that members of Parliament have received applications, would indicate that the message boys have acted on the instructions in the circular without a knowledge of the law.

It is expressly provided that no person shall, directly or indirectly, use influence to secure the appointment, promotion’ or increase of salary of any person in the Public Service. In the case of any officer taking such action the oenalty is to be deemed unworthy of promotion and liability to immediate dismissal.