POST AGIO HATES AND POSTAL SALARIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13502, 29 July 1907, Page 7

POST AGIO HATES AND POSTAL SALARIES.

Sir,-—J, notice the Hon', the Colonial Trca* ; surer in his Financial Statement, propose.?"' further reductions in postage rates. If tlx* colony or Dominion is in such a ..wealthy ! condition as to afford tiic.sc unaskod-for concession it, is quite, time some recognition was taken of the miserable pittances paid t0,,., postmasters and telephonists on the. nont j permanent staff in charge of small outlying • j country offices. In the majority of case'. " | these .sweated officials have to bo in attend- • <ie<> eight hours a day fot'six days a week. ' j and no half-holiday allowed. They must set I aside immediately when called upon any ... ' j other work they may he engaged upon to attend to the exigencies of tho • services. • I J he are .required to be conversant with { . voluminous regulations, circulars, etc. • Tb«v ■ , < have to. n-n every effort to have all tele-; </ > grains delivered, often to outlying bush t» i' camps or gu:nfin!d», wit bout fee or reward,' ; For these services the- princely salary of 1 iroiu £6 to £50 per- annum i* paid: The ' ; commission on stamps can scarcely he taken s { into, account, as ii. is only 2 per cent., which a scarcely covers torn or lo>t. stamps. Our - open-hearted P'J-*tm;ister-(jeneral (to 1 . the world at,large) aisc makes the down-trodden e sub-postmaster. pay the sunt oi 5d lot each 1 type required. The natural sequence of re- : duced rates is increased business, thus rowing more work on tho underlings without extra remuneration. Bv kindly bringing this matter under public notice you will he conferring a favour on a Jut-go num- : her of unknown but deserving public set- | v;,nts - Stamps.