THE POSTAL SERVICE

Wairarapa Age, 17 November 1919, Page 5

THE POSTAL SERVICE

AND THE PROMISED BONOS.

(By Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Last Night. The question of the payment of the war bonus up to September 30th last to officers of the Post and Telegraph Department was referred to in an interview wMi the Hon. J. G. Coats. The Minister said that when he took over the portfolio of Postmaster-Gen-eral, one of the first things lie was asked to do was to carry out the promise alleged t have been made by Sir Joseph Ward when PostmasterGeneral in the National Government, that a war bonus would be granted to the postal officers from October Ist, 1918, to October Ist, 1919 . He had not then looted into the matter. A promise was on record in the Departmental files, and if he was able to do so, he would meet the promise. He found on the file the following minute by Cabinet, dated December 5, 1918, to a recommendation by Sir Joseph Ward, then Minister for Finance: "War bonus to be for .twelve months from October 1, 1918, to October 1, 1919, excepting in cases where re-grading takes place, or where there has been increases of salary, and where there have been increases of salaries, the original bonus to he paid to March 31st, 1919." He also found a Department circular by the Secretary to the Treasury, da'ed December 11, 1918, in which the following appeared: "I have to advise you that Cabinet has decided to double the war bonus for the year commencing October 1, 1918. The condi : tions will, however, be somewhat different from those which obtained in •he past. In cases where there have been increases of salary for any portion of the above period, the increased bonus will not be paid for any portion of the year as may be cover, ed by the increased pay." The next stage was reached when the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald was Acting-Post-master-General and Mr Myers Act-ing-Finance Minister. On April 15, 1919, Cabinet came to the following decision, vide the Departmental records: (1) Cabinet decisions of sth and 11th December are cancelled; (2) second grant of war bonus to be for six months, commencing October J, 1918. Beyond the Cabinet minutes quoted, there was nothing on record to show that a fresh decision was come to after Sir Joseph Ward returned to New Zealand, or that Sir Joseph Ward made a promise. Mr Coates said he approached the executive officers of the P. and T. Officers' Association for definite evidence of the promise stated to have • been made, hut they could give him nothing tangible to go on.