"JUST A SUGGESTION"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24630, 11 June 1941, Page 6

"JUST A SUGGESTION"

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —At the recent conference of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers' Union Mr J. George was reported, under the above heading, as having suggested sending the Minister of Labour to the Middle East to tell our boys that we cannot give them more equipment until all•'« civil Vservants have had their annual holidays. * As an honest and conscientious member of the P. and T. Department, I can assure Mr George that -my;,'fellow, officers bow downv-to, no one as faT as loyalty to. their. Government and couhtfy is.: concerned. ' Immediately war was declared P> and^sT*». officers' organisations offered the Government their full co-operation in its war effort. This offer was gladly accepted, and has been taken advantage of to-the'fullest extent. From the day that war was declared, officers have worked in excess of 40 hours wherever required, while many on special war-time jobs.are required to work exceptionally long hours; In addition; almost 80 per cent, of the eligible male staff is serving in one of the three "forces, while many more have completed three months' territorial service. Since, the .declaration of war the P., and T. staff has been reduced by some hundreds in spite of extra work caused -by the war (oil fuel control, censorship, etc.), and the employment of a large inexperienced female staff. Officers were the first to organise regular contributions from their wages to the Patriotic Fund, and they also have regular deductions from their wages paid on their behalf into the National Savings Account. Is Mr George aware that 9 of the 35 decorations bestowed upon New Zealand soldiers for bravery in- the Western Desert were won • by. P. and T. employees? Surely this must be con- v sidered a wonderful record for the representatives of such a small section of the population. Can Mr George enlighten me about the war effort of himself and his fellow-delegates? We're they on annual leave during the conference, and did they use the railway transport system or did they came to town by private car? Do they, attend every stock sale, and do they believe that farmers should appeal on behalf of their sons, many of whom seem to play golf and waste valuable sterling exchange in the form of petrol? Should Mr George desire to know what I have done for the common cause, I am proud to inform him that I am a small wage-earner with a family, and that I am a fully-trained territorial volunteer. I have not had annual leave for over 18 months, and as a volunteer for overseas service I am awaiting a call from the Army Department.—l am, etc., Only a Civil Servant. Duriedin, June 8.

THE USE OF BUSES TO THE EDITOR Sir,—l read with interest the opinion expressed at Monday night's City Council meeting that it was unnecessary, at the present time to run buses to the races at Wingatui. I entirely agree with that view, and would go further by suggesting that buses between Port Chalmers and Dunedin should be cut out, on Sundays in particular, and a train run instead. I frequently travel by one of the two buses from Port Chalmers on Sunday. At Sawyers' Bay one is lucky to get a seat, and from then on passengers pack in like sardines. AP art from being unhealthy, it is dangerous, and furthermore, it is not right that anyone should have to pay full fare and be compelled to stand for over three-quarters of the distance. On a recent Sunday the bus broke down at Sawyers' 'Bay and the remaining 15 passengers walked to Port rather than wait while the driver walked to a house to telephone for another bus. I say that one train would give a much better service, and everyone would have a seat, which they are entitled to after paying full fare.—l am, etc., June 10. Fair Go.