THE POSTAL SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2480, 5 June 1915, Page 7

THE POSTAL SERVICE

■ : « SPEECH BY THE COMMISSIONER. Last evening a smoke concert arranged by the Wellington Branch ■ of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Officers' Association was tendered the delegates to the Post and Telegraph Conference. Mr. B. Thomas, chairman of the local branch, presided. The evening was very pleasantly spent, and a good programme of music and other items of entertainment was provided. Among the speechos was one by Mr. D. Robertson, Public Service Commissioner. Mr. Robertson said that the Commissioners had been in. office a lifctlo over two years. In that time the positions had been improved of postmasters, senior parcels clerks, supervisors, and assistants, telegraph officers, and supervisors of telephone exchanges. Assistant heads of mail staffs had beei appointed, thus filling a much-felt want' and clerks in charge of letter-carriers had been among the positions created These positions gave chances to mer lower down the ladder. Just prior t< his taking office, the association had ap. preached ! him, and asked for som< spccial consideration for officers on th< £220 maximum who had passed certair examinations. The Postmaster-Gen-eral had readily agreed, and a £10 increase had been given. The Commissioners had gone still further in th( matter, and the officers now receiver £2-15. A great many officers had com< undor this benefit, and it had been generally appreciated. With regard t< junior post office messengers and letter carriers, the Commissioners had 'mad< arrangements whereby these officers re ceived double, increments in the ear Uer stages of their appointments. This was hiot(T in keeping with the duties tho.y had to perform. Married officer: also benefited by having the mmimun raised from £130 to £145. It was hop ed that this minimum would be fixe< in future by Act of Parliament, instcai of being arranged from year to year a at present. The Commissioners hai also laid down lodging allowances fo: letter-carriers employed away fron home. They'bad increased by a weal the annual leave of officers with be tweon ten and fifteen years' service. J comparison between salaries in hov Zealand and elsewhere might be made but lie would limit it'to the salaries o letter-carriers. In New Zealand th minimum was £180, plus £10 good con duct pay for long service. A recen award in Australia had laid down £16! as the salary, with £6 increase afte ten years' service. The Commission ors had reduced the working week fror forty-eight hours to forty-four hours for the purpose of paying overtime Regarding furlough, ho said that a present when a man retired he wa given three months' leave. Ho ha< submitted proposals to the Governmen whereby after twenty years' service a: officer should rcccivo six months' fin lough on full pay. If the officer wa not able to avail himself of this fur lough until he retired, he should the; receive six months' leave on full pay or its equivalent in money. EASTBOURNE CARNIVAL. Owing to a big counter-attraction be ing held in Wellington- on Jiine 12, th executive of the jiastbourno Carnivr have decided to postpone their funetio until tlie following Saturday, June IS This will give the energetic committc a further opportunity to add to tlioi already attractive programme. It ha also been decided to hold a baby sho' fcr children under six months aiid ui der twelve months. Particulars will 1