LETTER-CARRIERS' DINNER.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1926, 8 December 1913, Page 11

LETTER-CARRIERS' DINNER.

4 SOME INTERESTING SPEECHES; DEPARTMENT'S PROCRESS, Tho annual dinner of the Wellington lottcr-carrieni, held on Saturday evening in the New Century Hail, was marked by quite an unusual number of interesting speeches, some of which are reported elsewhere.

Jlr. >1. Johnston (clerk in of I Ihu lottcr-earriers) presided. Amongst, thoso present were: Tho Hon, R. Hcaton Rhodes (Postmaster-General), tho Hon. F. 11. li. Fisher (Minister of Customs), Messrs. A. IJ. Hindimn'sh, M.l'., li. At more, M.l\, J)r. A. K. Newman, M.P., 11. M. Campbell, M.P., J I'. Luke (.Mayor of Wellington), J. Orchiston (Chief Telegraph Engineer), 11. (irocott (second clerk, G.i'.O.), A. I'. Dryden (Chief Postmaster), FWaters (Assistant-Secretary), W. R. Morris (Secretary), J. C. Williamson (Chief Clerk), R. D. Kelly (Assistant Postmaster), and Captain Post (Government steamer Tutauekai). Apologies for absence were received from tilio Prime .Milliliter! (Hon. W. F. Mtissey), the Hon. A, L. Hcrilinau, tho Public Service Commissioners (Messrs. Robertson, Triggs, and Thomson), Messrs. G. 13. Dall (Assistant Secretary), D. ilillor (Chief Inspector), M'Namara (clerk to staff department), T. M. Wilford, M.P., ami others. •A telegram conveying good wishes was I received from tiio letter-carriers of Dtmedin.

Tiio toast of "Tho King" Jmving been proposed, Mr. F. V. Waters proposed that of "The Government." Tho Hon. F. M. I!. Fisher replied. He said that ho would not make iv long spaech, as he was ono of thu tired ones. (Laughter.) }-U> bad boesi kept out of boil through the stonewall by tho conduct of a shocking Opposition. llis friends Messrs. Atmore and Hindmarsh would probably say, however, that it had been cattscd by tho actions of a disgraceful Government, (Laughter.) Mr. Fisher nevertheless made s-iiiio interesting remarks on tho strike situation and other subjects. Those v.ill bo found in another column.

Mr. J. C. Williamson proposed the toast of " Tho Postmaster-General." Tho presence of tho Minister at such! a gathering, ho said, was an earnest of the fact that 110 wished to get into closer touch with the officers of his Department. Thev had for many years been fortunate ni the Ministers who had presided over their Department, and tliey were not less happy in having Mr. Rhodes in tho chair now. Although the Public Service- Commissioners had relioved the Minister of somo of his duties, there were still any number of responsibilities for him to shoulder. Still, Mr. Rhodes seemed to come through smiling, and had a proper answer for all who came to him, with all kinds of requests. t (Applause.) Tho Hon. R. H. Rhodes, 111 reply, said that several great changes had taken place since 110 last met them a year ago. Not the least of these was the transference of their chief, Sir. Robertson, to tho Public Service Board of Commissioners. There had been differences between tho Department and the Board, but they would soon, be settled, when the Department's delegates met tho Commissioners. (Applause.) Since he had been in office he had learnt the value of the services which had been rendered to tho country by Sir Joseph Ward, as Postmaster-Gene-ral. He realised what a hard task it was for any one to follow in his footsteps. Ho had also learnt the value of the services of his officers in the Department, both those at tho head, and amongst the rank and file. Mr. Rhodes also gave a resume of tho Department's progress during the year, which will bo found elsewhere.

Mr. A. P. Dryden proposed the toast of " Parliament," which was responded to by Messrs. A. 11. Hindmarsh, H. Atrnore, and H. M. Campbell. Mr. Campbell expressed appreciation of tha Postmaster-General's action in providing postal conveniences for the country. Mr. Atmore also spoke. Sir Joseph Ward proposed the toast of the "Post and Telegraph Department." Ho remarked that it was a strange thing that members of Parliament always expressed themselves as sick and tired of it, but they all wanted to get back. Every new member of Parliament thought that ho was going to revolutionise mankind, but mankind went 011 in tho same old way. (Laughter.) Parliaments were very much alike the world over, but the New Zealand Parliament was one of tho best of them. It was legislating for a very active-minded people, and had tackled many problems which other Parliaments had never touched, and had made many unique reforms and improvements in the conditions of the people. 'Hie

letter-carriers of New Zealand,' Sir Joseph continued, were better off than their comrades in England, who had to work long hours for small pay. JJo'wished them every success. (Applause.) Speaking moro directly to the subject of tho toast, Sir Joseph Ward said that ho -was very proud of tho Department, especially when ho so often heard people of other countries talk of tho Dominion. This mado them appreciate what had boon dono by a young country. The Postal Department ought to be

proud of tho way it carried out iis multifarious duties. Tho Department was up-tu-dato in every way, and it had to be commended for training iis own engineers, who could do work as well as those in any other part of the world. The efficiency «f the Department was due to tho skill and the zeal nf its officers, and he hoped their salaries would go on increasing ami "booming - ' to their hearts' content. (Laughter and applause.) Ho liked to see men working up from tho bottom rung of the ladder. Ho hoped the Department would continue to develop and go on improving with the years. (Applause.) Mr. W. R. Morris, in reply, thanked Sir Joseph Ward for his words of appreciation. Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P., proposed the toast of "The City of Wellington." Tho Mayor (Mr. J. I'. Luke) responded. He said that tlio City had passed through a period of trouble, which lie hoped it would never experience again. 'Hie citizens had stood by him lovallv iu his efforts to maintain taw and order. (Applause.) He expressed his appreciation of the work of the letter-carriers and ef the Postal Department in general. Mr. H. Mmore. M.P., protiosinc the t-onst of "The Chief 7 5 <ist Office." expressed the opinion that £170 was not a suflirient yeijrlv maximum fur lettercarriers. As the country demanded men of higher qualifications in the service, it. should give better condition: and wages. (Applause.) The primal officials should have fuller political rights than at present, Mr. A. P. Drvdt'U responded. He did not Maine the stall' for belli'; discontented. lie was never cniilonteil himself. (LaughterA If 'hey wished I to on. tl,e ollleers of ihe Deiiai'lI menl mnst improve iln-ir condition? b.v tl:"'i' <iW'i efforts. ' The other lo;i«ls honoured we'-e:— "The Post anil Telegpjpji Association, proposed by Mr. C. f!. Camp, and r»--oonileil to liy Air. IT. K. Cnoi"hs : "The Letter-Carriers' Soeinl Club." ('■lotain Dawson, resnonce bv Mr. 1L -Spear: "The. Press,'' Mr. Iv J. sluuhc<. Musical items were rendered by Messrs. P'liere, Hoii'lon. C. M'ljrlean. T., A. Howe, T. Raplcy, and E. J. Huzlts*.