THE BASE RECORDS DEPARTMENT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 47, 19 November 1917, Page 6

THE BASE RECORDS DEPARTMENT

Sir,—Out uponi your correspondent "Competency." What is his grievance? One comes to the conclusion,.on reading his epistle, that he is the round peg that is missing in the Department he rates so' frothily. One would also imagine him as possessed of supernatural gifts— in that he had suoh opportunities for witnessing the shortcomings of so many different branches of Department—maybe he was orderly-in-general. We have' a trite saying that "tho onlooker sees the most of the game," but in most games of life there are occasional spells when even the player may make use of- his powers of observation. Of " the Defence Department in general one is not competent to speak; but one part has been attacked rather venomouslv—the "Record" branch—and cs one who has been inside—on the clerical staff —permission to refute some of tho charges made is asked.

We ars told the "Records" branch is stuffed with men and girls, and the wonder is ivlt«t thej; find to do. The answer to that is—if ever one had been in there when work was on the question would not hare been aeked. One believes that all branches of the Defence Department are worked to the full, but the "Recovds," especially casualty and history sheet staffs, do their own share, and eomeone else's. TUo routine* work of these staffs is quite sufficient to fill in seven working: hours; but when the telegraph begins to tick, 'tis not. a question of time or person, but work, and that work is tackled cheerfully and faithfully by one and all. Though physical forces may be low, yet the one thing is the overwhelming need of the hour—the getting through of the latest news concerning our soldiers to their next-of-kin, and only one who has participated in the work can realise what it is, and it is not to be described.

The casualty lists look simple enough when published, but the probability is that very few of those who scan those lists ever try to realise the manner in which they ai'e prepared, and the amount of work entailed, or the self-sacrificing men and women who toil far into the small hours at times—food and sleep and ways of getting home all put aside. At one time the words "Government stroke" was synonymous with "sloth," but the "Base Records" has for ever redeemed the "service" of that imputation. Not at any time would the "Rocorda" appear to a sane persons as a picnic. The atmosphere at times is more suggestive of tragedy. Morning tea is dispensed—as a rule-rsometimes not—and never in the afternoon—to men and women who probably have worked strenuously whilst Wellington slept, and were punctually at their desks at the next shift. Why are all clerks- in this branch requested to give a 'phone number, if not so that the chief clerk may call up at any time, Sunday especially, just so many workers ! as are required to meet thn hour of I emergency. Truly, the "Records" branch slumbers not, nor .sleeps; and the : pay for women at least is paltry, with one I shilling per hour overtime. Quite frequently women and girls crawl home after midnight.

After one of our recent battles on the Western front—the casualties were very heavy and the ballot coming through at the same time—the staff were fairly worn out, and the Director addressed his thanks to each room separately," and, walking round, 6tood for a few seconds nt each cabinet, to mark his appreciation of the efforts of everyone to convey to parents and friends the latest news of their soldier boys. Should such workers as these be denied the bonus? Bather should they have a double share.

Tour correspondent deplores the waste of paper; but 'tis rather the economy l of it, which is most apparent; and he also complains that highly-officered men are doing the work of incompetents, whilst incongruously demanding that mcompetents be weeded out. " [Our correspondent here describes the work of the several officers of the Department.] The grouser ws have "always with us— like the poor—and so lons "s he goes round lonian? whore he has no business there will always bo something to offend his over-sensitive nostrils; but before he starts, 'twere as well to be sure that his eyes are not clouded by a fit of spleen, and his pen likewise. 1 ."Two men looked thro' tlio self-same , . kitrs; \ One saw the mud, and one saw the v stars." I (jira, etc., 9 SQUADE PEG.