SECRECY VIOLATED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4038, 7 January 1930, Page 2

SECRECY VIOLATED.

P. & T. DISMISSALS

STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER,

The following statement was made on 'Saturday by the Prime Minister (the Rfcghit Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) concerning the dismissal of certain men in the Auckland Telegraph Office: “I have taken -the opportunity of -'seeing the official papers, and it is quite clear that the charge made against the officers and held proved by the Magistrate was of divulging the contents of telegrams passing through the office. -Everyone will realise the greatest importance of maintaining secrecy in the telegraph office, and there is no doubt that the service rendered by the telegraph offices 'would be of lit lie value both commercially and privately if the strictest secrecy were not maintained.”

The law of the- country is, and this is confirmed by the law offices of the Crown, that the. secretary qf the Post Office has complete control of the staff, and his decision in disciplinary matters can be reviewed only by the Board of Appeal, which board the dismissed men have to approach. A previous Parliament put this law into effect with the object'of ensuring nonpolitical control of the State services, and 'the Government has' no authority to rescind or deal with the charges against these officers. Tudor the Act it is removed from the control of the Postmaster-Gen-eral or anv Minister to deal with.”