THE DISPUTED BONUS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 36, 6 November 1919, Page 7

THE DISPUTED BONUS

INQUIRY TO BE MADE

THE P. AND T. OFFICERS

The Postmaster-General (lion. J. Q. Coutes) made a statement m the Jlonso of Representatives yesterday regarding the Post and Telegraph oliicers' bonus. Sir Joseph Ward, the ex-Postiuaster-Cieneral, stated earlier in the session that during his period oi ('Bice ho Jinu promised the oliicers tliat the bonus would 'be continued for a full year from October, 1 I'JIS. Tho bonus was stopped when tho Department was regraded in April last, and Sir Joseph Waul claimed that there had been a breach of faith, The matter had'been discussed several times during the session. Mr. C'oates said that the question was a very .difficult one A large sum of money was involved, and it had been difficult to get any definite evidence as to what had been promised. The Government had decided, after careful (Consideration, to ask some responsible per--Bon, la Judge of tho Supremo Court, if possible, to decido what ought to bo done in the case. Sir Joseph Ward baid he wished to make a strong protest against the course proposed. Ho had stated in the House more than once that as Postmaster-Gen-eral he had made a promise to tho postal officers. Now a Judge or some other person was to bo asked to decide if ho had jiiiado the promise. It was on extraordinary thing to ask anybody to investigate an official statement made by a Minister of the Crown. The Prime Minister said the matteir was exceedingly difficult. Some promises 4 had been made. It appeared that, two promises had been made. There was no record of tho second, and most important, •promise, and there was no Cabinet minute to show that tho ej-Postmaster-General had made any recommendation to Cabinet regarding either of these promises. The, Government wanted to do what was right, but a sum of ,-eSOn.OOfI or. .MW.OfIO was involved., since if tho payment was made to the P. fni T. officers it must be made to other Deportments. fjir feenh Ward reneated his protest, and said.the responsibility was no longer his.