POST OFFICE SENSATION

Taranaki Daily News, 30 December 1929, Page 11

POST OFFICE SENSATION

TELEGRAPHISTS DISMISSED

AUCKLAND SENTENCES “HARSH.”

EMPLOYEES’ EMPHATIC PROTEST.

MATTER BEFORE APPEAL BOARD.

(By Wire-Special to News.) Auckland, Last Night.

“Had a bomb been dropped on the Auckland telegraph office it could not have caused more surprise than did the dismissal of the six members concerned in the recent inquiry,” said a P. and T. official this morning when discussing the “sentence” of officials who used the social telephone at the office allegedly for discussing racing -matters on the date of the Thkapuna races.

.■“ln view of the evidence tendered at the magisterial inquiry. we were unanimously of opinion that the worst that would happen would be a caution or probably a fine,” the official continued. “No one ever dreamed for a moment that dismissals would be ordered. Such a sentence is unreasonable when ono considers the nature of the alleged offences, and the staff is at a loss to explain this unexpected severity; in fact one might say harshness. The sentence is neither humane nor just, and unless something is done to review it much harm will be done throughout the service.”

The staff has sent the following telegram to Sir Joseph Ward, PostmasterGeneral: “Six officers of the Auckland telegraph have received notice of instant dismissal through alleged betting over the telephone. The sentence imposed is, in our opinion, out of all proportion to the alleged offences. This branch most emphatically protests and asks that you immediately give your personal attention to this most urgent and serious matter with a view to a more humane sentence being imposed.” The men are smarting under what they consider a most unjust sentence, and the matter is to be taken before the Post and Telegraph Appeal Board, the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association having already taken action in that direction. In the meantime the' staffs of the post office are getting in touch with local members of Parliament to see if something can be done to have the sentences revised.

As it is intended to publish the nature of the charges and reasons of the Post and Telegraph Department- for dismissing the six men, the public will have an opportunity of judging whether or not the men have been harshly treated. TALK OVER TAPPED WIRE. It is learned that twelve men of the staff of 155 were questioned after the inspectors listened m by a secret wire. One was able to prove that his conversation over the tapped wire did not refer to betting, two others. discussed betting with their wives, and one frankly admitted betting. Eight men were concerned in the inquiry held by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. Seven were pronounced guilty and six of the seven were dismissed and the seventh was transferred to another branch. In addition to members of the staff, outsiders were called to give evidence at the inquiry. As soon as the six men received their notices of instant dismissal yesterday they relinquished their duties. The penalty in the eaces of those men found guilty rested m the hands of Mr' G. McNamara, Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department, who gave his decision on Friday in the instances of the six men who were dismissed. The penalty in the cases of a number of other men who admitted their guilt when they were confronted and have not yet been punished lias yet to be made known direct to the men concerned by Mr. McNamara, who is in Wellington. In addition to dismissal .the manner in which he can punish misconduct' includes the imposition of tines, regrading to a lower level, and the forfeiture of leave of absence.

The six officers concerned have 30 days in which to send in their applications to bo heard by the Appeal Board. The applications arc forwarded to the secretary, together with *tlio grounds of appeal. The secretary is bound to inform tho board, together with his answer to the case.

The board usually sits shortly after the application has been sent in, and comprises a magistrate, a representative appointed by tho department, and an employees’ representative who has boon chosen by ballot’ to sit. The appellants may appear either in person or by a representative, and are allowed to hear tho .evidence brought against tho application, which is led by tho Crown Solicitor or some other counsel appearing for tho department in opposition to' tho appeal. The mon dismissed, four of whom were operators and two distributor, had been in the service between 16 and 34 years, one of them being duo to retire in 14 months’ time on superannuation. ,

NO RIGHT TO SUPERANNUATION. CONTRIBUTIONS TO BE REFUNDED Wellington, Dec. 28. In connection with the dismissal of the ollleers the Secretary of tho department, Mr. 0. McNamara, stated to-day that in the ease of each of the men who had been dismissed the right to superannuation subsidy was .forgone in accordance with the public service regulations. They would lie entitled, of course, to a refund of their payments into the superannuation fund. All had the right to appeal against the decision, notice of appeal being required to be made within a month.

Discussing tho cases of three other men against whpni allegations had been made, Mr. McNamara said ono had been found not guilty, while the others had explained themselves satisfactorily. One of the 1 latter was a boy distributor who appeared to have been influenced in hits offence by his elders. He was being punished by being relieved of distributing work and put on to other duties. 'The organiser of tho P. and T. Employees’ Association, Mr. 11. 11. Brown, who was ono of the two representatives of the association at tho magisterial inquiry, remarked to-day that tho penalty inflicted was a severe ono when ono considered tho nature of the charges. The general Idea seemed to bo that tho allegations consisted of charges of betting with bookmakers, but he said he wished to make it clear

that- that was contrary to fact. The men concerned were charged with discussing racing matters over the telephone. There was nothing in the nature of laying beta in that. What they had done was nothing very serious. Mr. Brown said tho secretary of the department had arrived at his decision ns a result of tho magistrate’s finding, and in fairness to tho men concerned Mr. Hunt’s finding should be announced. So far, he said, the men had not been no informed.