IN SOCIAL MOOD

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2338, 21 December 1914, Page 6

IN SOCIAL MOOD

LETTER-CARRIERS' DINNER LENGTHY TOAST LIST The annual dinner of the Wellington Letter Carriers' Social Club was held on Saturday night, in the New Century; Hall. Mr. J. Johnston, ofacer in charge of the letter-carriers, presided, and amongst those present were tha Minister of Finance (the Hon. J. Allen), tho Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. H. D. Bell), tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), Mr. W. li. Morris, Secretary of tho Post Office, Mr. R. TriggE, Public Servico Commissioner, Mr. A. P. Dryden, Chief Postmaster, and Mr. D. Millar, Chief Inspector. Apologies for absence were received from tho Prime Minister (the Right Hon. "W. F. Massey), tho Postmaster-General (tho Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes), the Attorney-General (the Hon. A. L. Hordman), the Minister of Marine (the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher), Sir Joseph Ward, Mr. Robertson, .Public Service Commissioner, Mr. J. Hislop (Secretary of Internal Affairs), Mr. A. D. Thomson, Commissioner, and others.

The first toast, that of "The Government," was proposed by Mr. C. D. M'Ewan, who said that all classes realised that during recent months the Government had passed through very, strenuous times. The parties to-day. were evenly divided, but one result might be that the best men in tha House might be elected "to carry on during the present crisis. Whatever Government was in power it would have the support of the people in these troublous times. Ministry In the Balance. The Hon; J. Allen, in responding,! said that ho did not know what to say in reply. The Ministry hung in tha balance, and the party hung in the balance, and nobody knew what the final result might be. He was grateful for the assurance they had given that whatever Ministry might be in office, they, j as representing a large body of the peo-, pie, and a considerable portion of the', Public Service, wished tho Ministry to , bo strong and stable in this time of national trial. (Applause.) He believed that New Zealand, the New Zealand Parliament, and the Government would do its duty, to the people of this oountry and tho Empire at large. They had already done a great deal more than they promised to do for the Empire,. and if he could read the feelings of the people, right, they were willing to do a great deal more . (Applause.) The service of the Postal Department had been appreciated, especially the work done by the Telegraph Department in Samoa. The Government was grateful to them for that very valuable service.

The Hon. H. D. Bell also responded. Tho toast of the Government, he said, must always be impersonal, even more so ui Ji gathering of the'kind they.were attending, for tlie postman was everyone's friend. He joined in what h'is oolleague had said, in the confidence that 310 matter who held office in New Zealand this year, it was their duty to regard themselves as people of tho Empire, rather than as people of New Zealand, and make up their minds that whatever happened New Zealand would play her part. Mr. 6. B. Dall proposed the "Civil Service' Commissioners." He referred personally to the ability of the Commissioners. _ Their work, espeoially in the classification, had been a colossal task, and they should be : congratulated for it. Ho_ believed they were endeavouring to give every man a chance. The letter-earners must recognise that every : man who was doing his work well would be. appreciated by the Commissioners. (Hear, hear.) The Right of Appeal; In responding, Mr. R. Triggs said that he was' sorry that previous engagements prevented Mr. Robertson and Mr. Thomson from being present. He was glad to be amongst them, for he knew the work they were carrying on. For two years he had had experience of it in Australia. In his connection with tho Government service he knew lie could better carry on his work by getting in contact with those working in the service. It was only •by so doing that they could carry on good work. Whether the Commissioner service was right or wrong, he could tell them thoy had only one thing in mind—to do absolute justice to nil the men.

Supported by Commissioners. If that was given—and he i>?;id it should be —then the Commissioners would stand by them. If the Government wanted-.any advioe the Commissioners would advise that freedom of appeal, which he thought would be particularly good to the Service. (Applause.) He wanted to say to them thai; he had travelled a lot. He had been in South Australia and Melbourne, and he Baid, with all his heart, that the New Zealand Public Service, had the elements of a very great ' publio service. (Applause.) Purging Electoral Rolls. Mr. 'A. B. Dryden proposed the toast of ' 'Parliament. 1 ' The letter-carriers should have an interest in the toast, he 6aid, for they had assisted in the machinery of electing the Parliament; he referred to the purging of the rolls nnd the enrolling of electors. The work was done, and it was well done. (Applause.) Their work had been criticised, and some mistakos had been made, but others would also have made mistakes. If the work was put in their hands again it would be better done, owing to the experience they had gained. It could be done without any hardship to tho officers of the Department. He referred to the present war, and said that had Germany been governed by a good Parliament it very likelj would never have occurred. ■ Mr. R. Fletcher formally responded. The toast of the "Post and Telegraph Department" was proposed by Mr. H. Atmore, who said that the men of the Post and Telegraph _ Service had not only carried out their civil work well, but had responded nobly when the call came for service at the front. . Wonderful Organisation. Mr. 'A. H. Hindmarsh proposed the toast of "The Chief Post Office." He Baid one could not help marvelling at the complete organism of-the Department. They mado very few mistakes. The history of tho Post Office was very wonderful indeed. He congratulated: the Department on the manner in which they carried oil their business. Mr. Dryden, in responding, said that ho believed the letter-carriers had been paid for tho purging of tho rolls, but not for enrolling the electors. Thoy would see about that on Monday morning. (Applause.) Further toasts honoured were "The City of Wellington," proposed by Mr. R. J. Kelly, Assistant Postmaster, and responded to by tho Mayor; "Wellington Harbour Board," proposed by Mr. D. Millar, and responded to by Mr. R. Fletcher, M.P., chairman of the Harbour Board; "Tho Post and Telegraph Association," proposed by Mr. C. 6. Camp, and responded to by Mr. L. Townsend; and "The Letter-Carriers'-Social Club," proposed by Captain Dawson and responded to by Mr. R. Spear. During tho evening an excellent musical programme was given. Mr. Holloway proved a capable accompanist, while Mr. Shardlow's orchestra added appreciably to tho programme.