OUTRAGEOUS STATEMENT

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 263, 10 December 1914, Page 10

OUTRAGEOUS STATEMENT

POLITICAL ASSERTION DENIED. THE GOVERNMENT'S EMPLOYEES The Hon. R. H. Rhodes, Post-master-General, has telegraphed the following statement to The Sun concerning an allegation published in Christchurch to the effect that an employee of the Post and Telegraph Department had been dismissed for having political leanings which tended to sway him in a direction contrary to that desired by the Government of the day: — In the course of his address at. Martinborough Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, Liberal candidate for the Wairarapa seat, called attention to the victimisation of a Government employee. "A' young man who had been for eight months on the telegraph construction gang had suddenly had his services dispensed with. On the Monday night, at the Kahautara School, this young man had moved a motion of thanks and confidence in him (Mr Hornsby). The motion of confidence had been withdrawn at the speak - ier 's request, and one of thanks only [was carried. On Wednesday evening [that young man 'got the bullet' —he jw"as sacked. Now, there was. one of two things: either the young man was ian inefficient and an unworthy man, or he had been victimised. Enquiry showed that the man was a good worker; he had been eight months in the gang. Therefore it was clear that the young fellow had been victimised because he had become a little prominent in politics. This was a discreditable business, and one that needed to be visited with the marked displeasure of the whole community." '> ' Mr Rhodes says that when he saw the message to-day he at once communicated with the Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department, to ascertain the facts, and received the following reply:— ' ' There is absolutely no foundation for the statement that the services of Mr Department, were dispensed with on account of his taking part at" Mr Hornsby 's meeting at Kahautara. The position is that : had been previously warned that his services were not satisfactory,' and that if he failed to improve Jie won Id have to be dispensed with. In spite of this warning, his work showed no improvement, and he Avas accordingly paid off on the 3rd inst. He had a week 's warning. The officer responsible for dispensing with

tlie services of assured me that he was not aware that Mr HornsbyV meeting had ever been held." Though it is probably too late now to counteract any influence the publication of this outrageous statement on the eve of the General Election may have had, Mr Rhodes thinks it only fair to his Department that the facts should be'given publicity.