LIBERAL LIBERALISM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1455, 1 June 1912, Page 7

LIBERAL LIBERALISM.

Sir-Seeing that the Government are going to hold an inquiry into tne workings of the Civil Service, I would like just to enlighten you on . a few or the facts concerning the Post and telegraph Department. I would suggest that while the inquiry is progressing that it take into serious consideration the too lon- salary paid to junior operators, lake myself, for instance. I started as a ni-essengor nine years ago, commenced operating less than two years later, and at the present time, with nine years service and at an age of 2i (less two weeks), am receiving the very insunicient salary of £110 per annum, with £5 10s. deducted for superannuation fund. Tins gives me the sum of 10s. to live on, and perhaps help keep others, as is often the case. At the same time, 1 would like to point out that, had I taken .on a trade, say, carpentering or tinsmithing, for instance, I would, alter four years' service, be receiving a wage equivalent to no less than .£l5O per year. Yet Hie great "Liberal" Government of this country can only see its way to pay me Alio, after me having served faithfully toi nine years without a hitch of any kind. X consider my salary quite inadequate for the work done, and I would like to say right here that it is the juniors who do the work as far as operating is concerned. I know scores upon scores ot "old crock" operators who cannot do a quarter 'of the work a young one can, earning', or rather receiving, salaries ot .£240 per year. Is it any wonder that such a number of the junior officers of both Post and Telegraph Departments are found guilty of embezzling money P How ma.ny of these young fellows would 1)0 out of prison to-day if they were pa*d a proper salary or, in , a * thoy aro justly entitled to? ihis lowsalary business is destroying ft >«rgc number of young men who hitherto been honest, but now have to resort to dishonest practices to make both ends meet. The temptation for those of not too strong wills is, to say the least lor it, very cruel. Jfany of the lower-salaried men, especially in small offices, are working under verv great responsibility anu trust. I think the least the Government might do is to give these officers a living wage. By so doing it would not only prevent to a great extent dishonesty, but give the men what they are undoubtedly entitled to. I consider a man of 24 veai'S of age should be receiving at least no less than ,£loo per annum. My caso is not in any wa .J',l rare instance, and I have not been kept back owing to not having passed the examinations, but have kept on the usual track of salary increments. 1 would like to state, in concluding, that great dissatisfaction exists among the junior oflicers, and that the Post ftiul Telegraph Department could do with a proper scrutinising overhaul. Ihanking von for your very valuable space. Hoping a more able pen than mine will take this most Important matter up.— I am, etc., powER CIROTI T,