The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd, 1924. LOYALTY OF SERVICE.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd, 1924. LOYALTY OF SERVICE.

Tue annual report of the PostmasterGeneral this year h-ns come in for special notice because of Mr Coates’ reference to a manifestation of disloyalty in the Postal and Telegraph Department. In the discussion which took place in the House on Friday niglit, initiate<l by members of the ljabor Party, Mr Ccut-efl ftood manfully to his guns, and made it plain that what he ha/1 said in the report he would stick to because the sentiments were 1.-is own convictions. Tito Minister was congratulated by Mr Isitt, .Mr Atmore, and others on his stand, and there will lie public approval of the Ministerial attitude also. The public desire a loyal service, and above nil that a public department should not become linked up with the Alliance of Labor, an organisation created to bo used for enforcing conditions which may not lx* obtained through ordinary channels. There should he a spirit of loyalty and confidence throughout the. public service which is directed not tor public lrofit but for public good. Those (.barged with the control of the public service are in the positions of responsibility for a limited period more or lew, and there is least of (ill any individual profit to them on the handling of the department. But- in their hands is a trust- which, as honest men, zealous of their position, they are anxious to discharge fairly and well. Mr Coates as Postmaster general found within the public service he was directing, an element of disloyalty inimical to the proper management of the branch. Where there are some 11,000 public servants involved, as is said to he the case of the Postal and Telegraph Department, it is essential that the Department- should co-operate in proper unison if the host results for all concerned are to bo obtained. It- airpears that within the. fold arc some 2,000 casual employees who are the chief source for the main disaffection within the service. Mr Coates did not. mince matters at all, and we should conclude that the Ministerial head 1k?ing so definite and decided in his views, that his clear statement should have a marked effect, on tile service as a 'whole. And this will he the more so, if the example of Messrs Isitt, Atmoro, and others is followed up, and the attitude of the Minister is publicly approved as tins right line of policy. The public service is on quite a. different footing to private employment, and it is clear from all the statements which have been published authoritatively that the men within the Department have been well treated. A casual

knowledge of the service should impress the least, discerning of the public that the staffs are literal and tlx* individuals are iiot lx'ing worked to a shadow. Indeed it would appear. from some instances we have in mind, that theie is a. state of over-staffing prevailing at- times for the volume of work offering. It has been found that many of the State Departments are over-staffed, and if numbers were depleted and the remainder were required to do a. little more work, it would not he so difficult to raise salaries without unduly burdening the country. With a staff of 11.000 in the Postal and Telegraph Department wo should say it is not a question of more men. hut a .lesser number would suffice to perform the public duties. W the war was at- its height- many men went from the service which carried on effectively despite the depleted ranks. Tliat was a test of what could be done, and if now as ordinary retirements and resignations occur the positions were filled from within the service without fresh appointments, a better tone would the quicker pervade the service. Loyalty of service is the first call if the public are to be properly served, and the Minister is quite right in .demanding it.