THE POSTAL SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20375, 2 October 1929, Page 14

THE POSTAL SERVICE.

Sir,—Correspondents have lately stated their views upon what may result subsequent to the enactment of legislation designed to permit gambling through telegraph offices. Gambling is mostly a dangerous vice and its encouragement is neither logical nor ethical. I agree that it is unfair to place temptation of this nature in the way of postal and telegraph officers, who are the poorest paid of our civil servants. It is quite apparent that many of them are finding it extremely difficult to make ends meet simply because the State has for years failed to give them sufficient remuneration for reasonable living expenses. Tho Post and Telegraph Officers' Association has been continuously waging, an unequal fight for fairer conditions, but the political representatives of the people simply pass over tho legitimate claims of postal workers for reasonable remuneration. During the past 17 years these thoroughly efficient and versatile officials have given a service to all classes of the community second to none for efficiency and cheapness while providing the Treasury with many a huge surplus. If these had been applied regularly to the purpose of a land settlement scheme on proper lines for absorption of unemployed labour and for fair remuneration given to those who produced it. the rank and file post and telegraph officers, it is quite possible that Reform would still occupy the Government benches. Instead, the reward given to these State employees through the political party in office' has been consistent. underpayment and, unenviable working conditions. As one in touch with the aims and views of this highly efficient body of workers I state definitely that the time is long overdue for the relief of their necessitous circumstances. Until this is done tho temptation to the rank and file through the operations of the amended gambling bill will indeed con. stitute a grave menace. Ex P. and T. Official.