THE TELEGRAPH SERVICE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18625, 22 July 1930, Page 12

THE TELEGRAPH SERVICE.

ROBBED BY TOLL CALLS. PAID SECRETARY’S ALLEGATIONS.

By Telegraph—Press Association WANGANUI. July 20. Criticism of the charge made for telegrams was made by Mr J. H, McKenzie, general secretary of the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association. at the Wanganui district annual reunion on Saturday night. He held that the charges as at present were a heavy losing proposition to the Department, and compared telegraphic with telephonic communication. He pointed out that where in the past telegrams had been sent, business people now resorted to toll calls, with a consequent falling off in revenue in the telegraphic department, against a rise in the toll department revenue. “Threepence is lost on every ordinary telegram sent.” A business man could communicate with a neighbouringtown by telegram for the same charge as he could the South Island. With a toll system there was a graduated rate. “All the cream had gone to the toll system and the skimmed milk had been left to the telegraphic service.” The speaker next referred to concessions granted to the Press Association. “It is not generally known to many public men just what the concessions are. I have no doubt that in the near future economy measures will be favoured by newspapers throughout the land: The Press will express the opinion that every Government Department should pay its way. Is that same Press going to tell the public what the Press Association is getting in concessions? I venture to say it won’t.” He added that according* to one statement issued, the Press Association cost £45,000 to £IOO,OOO per annum. Taking 100 words as a basis, he said that the Press messages cost eight eenpence, against six shillings and fourpence for commercial telegrams. He contended that the Press Association should pay more for the service it was getting. Weight of officialdom, the speaker alleged, had been used to secure certain secret meetings to get senior officers into another guild, and “we ate going to fight that strenuously,” said Mr McKenzie. He believed that the move to sectionalise officers of the Department had originated in Wellington. but he possessed no knowledge of the originator or promulgators. He knew though, that meetings had been held in office premises and in office time. There had been a conference between the Chief Postmaster at Wellington and some heads of branches. This lasted from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the chief’s room. He had been refused admittance. He challenged the Chief Postmaster later, contending that the move was most unprecedented, but the Postmaster said it was nothing unusual. Mr McKenzie said he wanted to know how the Postmaster would view it if employees in a Department suddenly downed tools and held a similar meeting. The Postmaster replied: “We are now living in a more enlightened age.’