DISMISSED P.O. OFFICIALS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 19, 6 January 1930, Page 9

DISMISSED P.O. OFFICIALS

APPEAL hWf 7’. V».“C TP CvA .. J. GO\ IIUNXSI HAS NO AUTHORITY. Wellington, January 4. The following statement was madt this afto noon by the Prime Minuter concerning the dismissal of certain men in the Auckland Telegraph Office:— “I have taimen the opportunity of seeing the official papers, and it is quite clear that the charge made against the officers and held proved by the Magistrate was of divulging the contents of telegrams passing through the office. Everyone will realise the greatest importance of maintaining secrecy in the telegraph office, and there is uo doubt that the service rendered by telegraph offices would be of little value both commercially and privately it the strictest secrecy were not maintained. The law of the country is- and this is confirmed by the law officers of the Crown—that the secretary of the Post Office has complete control of the staff and his decision in disciplinary matters can be reviewed only by the Board of Appeal, which board the dismissed men have to approach. The previous Pailiament put this law into effect with the object of ensuring non-political control of State services, and the Government has no authority to rescind or deal with the charges against these officers. 'Under the Act it is removed from the control of the Postmaster-General or any Minister to deal with ”