POST OFFICE DISMISSALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21145, 1 October 1930, Page 8

POST OFFICE DISMISSALS

PROTESTS IN THE HOUSE. GOVERNMENT STANDS FIRM. (Per (Jotted Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, September 30. When the vote of £2,828,141 for the Post Office account was submitted to the House of Representatives to-night it Jed to considerable discussion on the recent dismisssals from the Auckland Post Office. Before this subject was introduced, however, Mr M. J, Savage (Auckland West) moved that the sum should he reduced by £lO. He said that the object of the amendment was to indicate that in the opinion of the House salaries in the department should be fixed by the process of arbitration. ,M r A- Harris (Waitemata) complained that the Minister had announced no decision on the subject of the petitions on which the Petitions Committee of the House had recently submitted a unanimous recommendation. He referred to the committee's recommendation that the petitions of the Auckland telegraph employees for relief in connection with their dismissal following the Takapuua race meeting should receive most favourable consideration.: The Minister (Mr J. B. Donald) said the point raised by Mr Savage had rcceived the consideration of the Cabinet, * decided that it could not agree e -Proposal. Referring to remarks of Mr Harris, Mr Donald said the petitions had been discussed by the Cabinet, and it had been decided that no action should be taken. Tlie Minister explained that the men had been dismissed for divulging information. Their cases had been investigated by a magistrate, who had decided that' they were guilty of the charges laid against them. The men Lad appealed to a court consisting of one magistrate and two other representatives, •this court had investigated the penalties as well as the charges, and it had confirmed the penalties inflicted. Continuing, the Minister insisted that it was essential that the secrecy of the Post Office should be maintained. The men had been fully aware that if they abused the trust reposed in them they would bo dismisssed. TT T w e u e n de ji of Labour Party (Mr H. -h. Holland) said he did not think übat any section of the House would be ‘inclined to accept the position. It was true that the men bad been tried by two courts, but they had then. come to the last court of appeal in the land. The Petitions Cbrummittee had heard all the evidence and had declared the punishment unduly harsh. It appeared that the Government was prepared to protect bookmakers who were using the facilities oi „the department illegally. ihe Acting Prime Minister (Mr E. A, Ransom) said that Cabinet had carefully considered the cases. It was evident that the , instructions of the secretary of the department had been disregarded, and this was a serious matter, notwithstanding the j j el ?f ed racing information. He reminded the House that even the representative of the. men themselves on 9? urt had agreed with the finding that they were guilty. The evidence before Cabinet had disclosed that day ’“formation had gone out of °-® f ce ° n f>° occasions, and on another day. information which should have been been divulged on 40 occasions. ■ffiformition. Bay whether waa aII r acnig h?. m f rabers: Would not a reprihave been a sufficient penalty? m “ r Ransom: There was no other course s HgP. ort tlle secretary in maintaming the efficiency and secrecy of the department. h - “f. (Wellington East) said to lodge a protest against the treatment which select committees had to P at Surely the House could iniLniL t r he +n G r ernm€nt uT a responsible T j°i, b j reasonable with its servants, it had not been suggested that punlsh , Ine s t J W3 , s not justified,) but metod S nnF°? te +K ed tbat tlle , Punishment meted out to the men was altogether out of proportion. Mr Coates said the point had not been made clear. The head-of the department was controlled entirely by legislation, and, that being so, if an appeal were disfL d ®P. a rtraent lad no option hut to put-the dismissals into effect. He expressed some alarm at the use that was apparently being made of the tefcraph offices for betting telegrams. R P stated that the men at Auck*aid u een i vnr ? ed against using the . 011 "!! - f -° r bettin K, Purposes. Continumg, the Minister said a “tip" did not constitute a betting telegram. For li n ad a a C te T a ™ stating that a horse fused “ ° f w ' nn,n K could not be rei alleged that every postmaster m New Zealand waa aware of the tZsmiHA bettiDE Mtgramß that welfe that ?b oß . race ,, da ? b - He asserted tnat tn e department’s “spy system” In Wlt h the,cases under considerathe\tt„akers naUSUrated at the behest of P ona ¥ denied that complaints had come from bookmakers. They had come owners and trainers, * l fopesa was reported and the House rose at midnight till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.