“A SHADOW OF HOPE”

Otago Witness, Issue 4039, 11 August 1931, Page 74

“A SHADOW OF HOPE”

BUSINESS OF POST AND TELE- . GRAPH DEPARTMENT STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY, . WELLINGTON, August 6. An improvement equal to 2 per cent, jn the general business of the Post and telegraph Department for the last three months was announced by the secretary (Mr G. M’Namara) this evening. Looking at the figures, he said, he saw a little shadow of hope, but it was so thin that it could hardly be called even a shadow. The department, he said, was having the fight of it s life, and there was nothing to indicate to the staff anything that was promising in the slightest way. “ This question of progress is a prettysore subject in the department at the present time,” Mr M’Namara said in addressing the employees at their annual smoke concert. “ Things are not going so well that we can carry a smile on our faces all the time, but we are carrying on. The last year was one of the most difficult years in the history of the department. In April, 1930, we had 10,000 employees. A year later we were just about the 9000 mark. It seems to us that of late we have become the odd department of State. When the Legislature decides to do something it says, ‘ Chuck it on to the Post and Telegraph Department.’ We are proud of this confidence. Last year the Unemployment Act came into force, and it has been a bit of a God-send to the Post and Telegraph because we have a few hundred men engaged on clerical work. It has enabled us to carry on and retain a certain number of men who otherwise would be out of work. It is very important that we should retain the trained men because without them we could not go on the market when good times come again. “In addition to the 10 per cent, cut, the rank and file have made another sacrifice not generally known;” Mr M’Namara continued. “We had to cut out the payment in cash for overtime. That means a heavy loss to the men on the bread and butter line. There is a silver lining somewhere,” Mr M’Namara said in conclusion. “At the present time the department is making the fight of its life for you and for the public. It will carry on and do its very best. I am getting every assistance to reduce the actual working costs.”