POST AND TELEGRAPH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18760, 14 July 1924, Page 5

POST AND TELEGRAPH.

OFFICERS' ANNUAL REUNION.

HIGH STANDARD OF SERVICE.

PROMOTION BY MERIT.

The annual reunion of the Post and Telegraph Officers* Asociation was hold in the Chamber of Commerce on Saturday evening. Mr. R. H. Brown, president of the association, was in the chair, and there was an attendamce of over 150 members. Among the guests were Sir James Gunson, Mr. W. J. Gow, the chief postmaster, Mr. J. Robertson, superintendent of telegraphs, and Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., chairman of the Appeal Board.

In introducing the visitors, the chairman referred to the activities cf the association and its co-operation with other organisations oE civil servants.

Reference to the standard of efficiency maintained' .by the officers of the service was made by Sir James Gur.son, in proposing the toast of the " Post and Telegraph Department." "I fully appreciate the magnitude of your department, and I have tlie greatest admiration for the service," said Sir James. " The growth of the department has been phenomenal and there is a lack of public appreciation for its services. Those who serve on the outpost stations deserve a tribute, together with the officers in the city branches. The department has been fortunate in the Ministers who have presided over it. The officers of the public services of this country are men of capacity and efficiency." (Applause.) In responding to the toast, Mr. Robertson said the moderate telephone and postal charges obtaining in the Dominion served as an indication of the standard of service rendered by the department. He detailed the policy foilowed in making promotions for the last five years. Merit was considered! before seniority. The Promotion Board had made 4500 promotions under this scheme, and it was satisfactory to note that only 13 appeals had' been upheld by the court. Officers would find that promotion was easier to obtain if they_ would pass the examinations. Approximately 300 of the officers eligible for promotion each year failed to obtain an increase in salary because they would not pass the grade examinations. Reference to the scope and status of the post office was also made by Mr. Gow. The aims of the association were referred to by the secretary, Mr. H. E. Combs, in replying to the toast of the " Post and Telegraph Officers' Association," proposed by Mr. A. Richards. Mr. Combs said the organisation was urging the fixing of the minimum wage pjpon a pre-war basis. An enquiry into service conditions was sought, and the association was advocating the establishment of an inquiry board. „ In responding to the toast of the "Post and Telegraph Appeal Board," proposed by Mr. F. deary, Mr. Cutten assured the association that the board was constituted in the best interests of the service and of the public. There was an impression among .some of th» officers that the board was not functioning correctly unless it supported a large proportion oJ; appeals This supposition was erroneouis, and the infrequency with which the Court found fault with the decisions of tho Promotions Boarci was an assurance that the latter body was working capably and efficiently. (Applause.) Other speakers were Mr. C. E. Collins and Mr. R. Reynolds. f . An enjoyable programme of musical items contributed to the success of tho reunion.