THE STATE AS A MASTER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 104, 24 April 1875, Page 11

THE STATE AS A MASTER.

It is a somewhat prevalent idea amongst the community that persons are to be envied who have had the good fortune to have been taken under the paternal wing of the General Government. This may, and no doubt is, correct in isolated cases, where places have been made for the favored few, but it is a fallacy with regard to at least one class of the servants of the State. Some short while since we drew attention to the eccentric regulations in force in the postal department, and this week we give our readers a few facts regarding the treatment and remuneration of one section of its employe's. We allude to the letter-carriers who constitute the Dunedin staff. We think it will be admitted by those who have been resident in this city for the last decade that during that period its proportions have been fully doubled, and during the past three years, the rate of living, &c. has materially increased. Taking these two facts, then, into consideration, it is but natural to suppose that to keep pace with the march of progress an increase in the number of the staff would have been necessary, and in a spirit of justice to its servants, the Government would have felt it incumbent upon it to see that its employes were not placed at a disadvantage by increased expenditure required, consequent upon the general prosperity of the colony. The Provincial Government, under whose control is placed the Police Force of Otago, viewed the matter as we do, and some six' months ago, on the recommendation of the Commissioner, increased the pay of every member of the Force, from the head of the department down to the last constable. But the letter-carriers of Duoedin are unluckily for themselves the servants of the General instead of the Prorincial Government, and the powers that rule at Wellington do not see such matters with the eyes of ordinary mortals, or Jnore likely still are quite oblivious of the increased duties of the hard-worked letter-carriers of Dunedin. Who is to blame in the matter we know not ; but this we do know — and our authority for the fact is the Postmaster at Dunedin — that the staff is totally inadequate to the requirments of the city. As a proof of its truth it may be started, that unless when possessed of a private box at the post-office, upon the arrival of the English mail, no less than twenty-six hours elapse before its delivery, and that to persons within four hundred yards of the head office. And now for a few facts as to its cause. Our readers will scarcely believe — but we have it on the best authority — that while six years ago, when the city was but of half its present demensions, the number of postmen were six ; now, to keep pace with its rapid and daily-increasing growth, the number has been increased to four. A similar logical and equitable decision has been arrived at in the matter of remuneration. Half a dozen years ago, when the work was comparatively easy to what it is at present, when the hills round about where not dotted with habitations, and with six to do the work, the salary per man was fixed at £150 per jrear. To-day, in consideration of the facts set forth their pay has been raised to one hundred and thirty pounds. Is it any wonder to hear, then, that under such paternal and considerate treatment, two out of the four have handed in their resignatiens, and leave the department at the close of the present month. In the Police Force provision is made for a retiring allowance to its members after a term of years, but no such compensation is allotted the hard-worked and poorlypaid class to which we have alluded. One of the two whose , resignations have been handed in, has been in the department for thirteen years, arid after that lengthened term of service he now quits it with the consolation of knowing, that while the whole community has been participating in the general prosperity, his merits have beea recognised by increased work and reduced pay. No doubt the vacancies thus made can be easily filled, but will they be filled, at least for a considerable time, in a manner to give satisfaction ? Humble though the position may appear in the eyes of some, it is undoubtedly one of trust and responsibility, and the policy which causes trained servants of tried integrity to throw up their appointments in disgust is more than questionable. It may be that the head of the department in Dunedin has not the necessary authority to increase his staff or its pay, but we have not the slightest hesitation in saying that were proper representations made by that officer to the Postmaster-General as to the total inadequacy of the staff at ' his command to meet the requirements of the city, the evil would be soon removed. In any case, no matter in whose hands 1 the matter lies, steps should atonce be taken to put a stop to the £ anomalous' state of affciniwe^have described, aridi place ' the "department upon something like a Workable. footing, : 7 -