LETTER-CARRIERS' SOCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12990, 3 June 1904, Page 8

LETTER-CARRIERS' SOCIAL.

SPEECH BY SIR J- G. WARD. Tho Duncdin letter-carriers' fifth annual re-union was hold in tho Lower Choral Hall last evening', when thoro was a largo gathering, ami a most pleasant time ivas spent. Tho room was prettily decorated, and a tempting supper hail been arranged. Tho chair was taken by Mr G. H. Clarkson, who had; on his light Mr Wilkin (Chief routmaster), and on iiis left i'iic ex-Chief Postmaster (Mr Cook). Other visitors wero Mr Ball (chief clerk), Mr Ward (accountant), Mr Cowie (the mail-room. supervisor), and others, including lcttor-e.vrriers froin Milton and Palmerston. In, a happy spccch tho Chairman eaid thoy had gathered together to celebrate the fifth reunion, and he was pleased to soo so many present. Apologies for absence wero received from tho lettercarriers at Lawrence, and from Mr Crawford, formerly a letter carricr in Duncdin, but now in Ilawera. In proposing the toast of "The Department,'' the Chairman referred to tho progress of the deportment, which, ho eaid, was second to none in tho Australasian colonies. In responding to tho toast, Mr Wilkin referred to tho department in glowing tonus, and said in Messrs Gray, Ruse, and Logan tho department had three capable and trustworthy administrators of the post and telegraph system. As an instance of the nrogross attained, ho eaicl tho receipts for the past year had n.uch exceeded those of tho previous years, and gave, evidence that the department was progressing most rapidly. Ho was sure Sir J. G. Ward' lintl the welfare of every member of the staff at heart, and to him tho great success of tho department was duo. Messrs Cook, Dall, and Martin also responded briefly. At this stage, of the programme Sir J, G. Ward arrived, and was greeted with loud applause and the singing of "For he's a jolly good fellow," and cheors were given for Sir Joseph and Lady Ward. In the course of a happy address, Sir Joseph congratulated tho letter-carriers upon thoir social reunion, and expressed the opinion that it would bo a good thing if other branches of tho public service wore to n.cefc similarly, because such gatherings (treated good feeling and an esprit do corps. Ht> pointed ont to tho younger men that it was only a matter of timo beforo they would be the elder men of the service, and they should regard thoir individual acts as' deeds of the first importance in their daily work, with a view to .still furtlier Imilding up a. service that had mado a- nanio for itself beyond our own: shoros, and to having a system as good if not better than that of older countries. They could claim to belong to tho service of a country that was practically the only one' in the world that was able to boast of a universal penny postage system. Ho alluded to the fact that tho department had just concluded a financial year that had given the highest financial results of any year in tho history of tho Post Office of the colony. Sir Joseph' also made kindly reference to Mr Cook, and said it was extremely gratifying to see both the late and tho present Chief Postmaster present on that occasion. Ho (Sir Joseph) also drew tho attention of the younger men to the great record of Mr Cook, a record of long and faithful service, and which was a good example to' everyone in the service. In conclusion, he (Sir Joseph) found' great pleasure in meeting tlw fetter-carriers, and in having tho opportunity of telling them that tho whole service of the I'ost and Telegraph Department was liov/ being built up from those who entered at tho lowest rung of the ladder, and that their careers in the sen-ice depended largely upon their own efforts. Ho recommended them to make up their minds, if they intended to continue in tho service, that the highest positions wero within their reach, and he wished thom many happy reunions of that nature, and trusted to bo present with thc-m on a future occasion. Other toasts were " Kx-Carriers and Visitors," proposed by Mr J. W. Wootton; "Our Donors," "The Ladies," "The Press," and " Our Host." During the evening son.ss wore conti-i----buted by Sir Joseph Ward, Messrs G. Jackson, G. B. Dall, W. Treworn, T. Anthony, A. Pacey, J. W. Wootton, R. L. Martin, W. Strachan, A. Smith. W. A. Martin, and M. Cougfhlan; recitations by Messrs W. Mayer and 6. Jacksun, a quantet by Messrs Anthony, Clarkson, Coughlan, and Pacey. a duet by Messrs K. L. Martin and G. Clarkson, and a bagpipe selection by Mr A. French. ' _____