“STRATFORD EVENING POST” WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1930. A MINISTER LEAVES.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 84, 25 June 1930, Page 4

“STRATFORD EVENING POST” WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1930. A MINISTER LEAVES.

THE Hon. H. Atrnore found himself in an unenviable posit- 1 ion in Nelson on Saturday evenwhen he attended, by invitation, a social function held by the Post and Telegraph Association. He was compelled as he said to listen to a tirade against the Government on the question of salaries which he considered extremely discourteous and lie felt the only thing' he could do under the circumstances was to leave. It was the only action Mr Atmore could have taken under, the circumstances. The remarks made, bv the secretary of the association and published elsewhere dr\ this issue were to say the least somewhat tactless. It is admitted that the Post and Telegraph officers for a long time have had a grievance over salaries, but the state of the country's finances at present cannot be overlooked. The Govtlie members of the civiil service ernment will be compelled to make drastic economies, and must bear their share of these as well as other members of the community. We should be very sorry if it were necessary to reduce salaries, or carry out retrenchment and hone that such a course wi|l not be necessary. But the Government simply cannot makp increases until conditions are better. 1+ would make no difference what Government were in power, such a course of action could not be fa"ken. If members of the Department would contrast thevr lot with that of manv in private employment, or those out of emplovment altogether, t.hev would real'se that their conditions -could e-isil\- be much worse. The methods heine* adopfed at the present time are more likely to alienate public sympathy than gain it.