JUBILEE DINNER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 162, 8 June 1940, Page 11

JUBILEE DINNER

POST OFFICE EMPLOYEES. CENTENNIAL CELEBRATED. To mark the jubilee of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Employees Association and Officers’ Guild, which was established in 1890, the Manawatu section of the. organisation held a dinner,' followed by a dance, in the P.D.C. tearooms last evening. There was a large attendance. Mr At D. Bark with, chairman of the section, presided, and the guests included Mr O. O. Coad, Divisional Director of the Post and Telegraph Department, who represented the Director-General (Mr J. G. Young), the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr'and Mrs A. E. Mansford), Mr JG. Churchill, of Wellington, vice-presi-dent of the' association, Mr C- L, Mayo, Chief Postmaster at Palmerston North, and a party of visitors from Dannevirke. Among the apologies for absence was one from flic PostmasterGeneral (Hon. P. C. Webb). After dinner there was a short toast list, opening with “The King,” the guests being asked to remember also the New Zealand men on active service, and the Allied forces.

The chairman proposed the toast ol the association. He said the organisation was formed in Dunedin 50 years ago by 29 officers who had to have scouts outside to see that no information leaked out about it. In a few months the membership reached several hundred. Mr Barkwith outlined the association’s history and development since that time. When it was remembered that the secretary of. the department bad power to withhold salaries and even dismiss any officer who crossed swords with the Government no matter how trivial the offence, one marvelled at the courage and perseverance of the pioneers. Their efforts were rewarded in 1890 when the Appeal Board was set up by Sir Joseph Ward (who had served in the department), and New Zealand was on the map, this appeal board being the first of its kind in a British colony, if not in tlie world. To-day the guild had a sympathetic Government and officers. Looking."back, one could feel proud of the efforts of its; pioneers in establishing it. The toast was replied to by Mr Churchill, who spoke of events in the early days and said lie could not recall any time in tlie association’s history when it had been on better terms with the administration than at present. Now the Director-General consulted the executive of the guild on any' matters affecting the staff. If there was. anything he could do lie would look into the matter and see "whether it could be done. The association was formed on June 1, 1890, and by a coincidence the two separate organisations into which it developed were amalgamated on.the same date, exactly 50 years afterwards. The toast of tlie “The Post and Telegraph Department” was proposed by 'Mr Mansford, who congratulated the association on attaining its jubilee, and expressed tlie hope that the same prosperity would be in evidence in flic next 50 years. The members of the department were a body of men and women bold in the highest esteem by everybody in the Dominion. There were very few of tlie public who had received anything but courtesy and consideration from members of the service, and this was often given under very trying circumstances. The department was generally take a for granted, like tlie seasons of the year. The past 50 years revealed the great progress which had been made. ' A UNITED SERVICE.

The toast was replied to by Mr Coad and Mr Mayo. Mr Goad said 'that Mr Young, tlie Director-General, was a magnificent leader and the whole service was happy and united under him. Mr Young was also a great believer in conferences to promote tlie department’s work. The speaker read a message from Mr Young, who. said that lie regretted that lie could not be present. The association had passed 'through many vicissitudes/but its pro--sent position augured well for the future, said the message. Mr Young congratulated tlie association on its merger with the Officers’ Guild. At no time in the history of the department was there a greater need for co-opera-tion and'intensified effort than at present, he said. The services of every available man would be needed in some sphere or other. The department was releasing as many men as possible for war service, and those who could not undertake this should be prepared to do their best to keep things running as smoothly as possible. The question of reabsorbing men who had gone to the war would arise. Difficulties in this would be reduced considerably if every officer tried to do a portion of the work formerly done by fellow officers who had been sent overseas.

Mr Mayo thanked the Mayor for his tribute to the department. It was not a one-man concern, lie said, and every credit bestowed on it should be shared by .every officer, no matter how senior or how junior. Co-operation was the great thing, and with that there would lie no fear for the department in tlie future. The coming period was likely to be a testing one, but for anything for which the administration asked a cheerful and willing, sacrifice would be made by officers. He said lie was 'pleased to sec some superannuated officers present; the department owed a debt to the former officers, who had handed them the torch to carry on. Entertaining items were given by. Mrs IV. Pascoe (song), Mr A. C. E. Charles (song), Mrs Charles and Messrs L. Findlay and L. Pascoe (instrumental trio). Mr and Mrs Barkwith greeted the guests on their arrival. Mrs Barkwith wore a frock of ruby and teal shot taffeta with a white fur evening coat. Mrs Mansford wore black satin, with a black evening coat and scarlet corsage. Members of the committee, who with the chairman were responsible for arranging the function, were Messrs J. IV. -Front (vice-chairman), E. L. S. Taylor (secretary), N. H. Amos (Bulls), Bringczu. Coleman, Haxton, Pram, Woodham, TV. H. Taylor, M. A. Griffin, S. Bishop and L. H. Rendle. Among the ladies present were Mrs Rendle, who wore black sheer and tulip silk with white evening coat; Miss Beryl Barkwith, who wore midnight blue silk chiffon and silver lame: Mi;s Taylor, black-floral taffeta; M rs Prairi, navy lace over rose taffeta : Mrs Bishop, white crepe romaine; Mrs 'Woodham, black georgette bordered with gipsy stripes. An enjoyable dance, into which those present entered enthusiastically, followed the dinner. Music was played bv a professional orchestra for both oldtime and modern numbers. The position, of MiC. was capably filled by Mr M. A. Griffin. Vocal solos given by Mrs M. E. Paddy ~ added further to the pleasure of 'iljg/gathering. More than ri hundred couples took 'part in the dancing, which concluded a successful function.