INQUIRY NEEDED

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8349, 8 February 1913, Page 4

INQUIRY NEEDED

There are rumblings of discontent in the electric telegraph department. Is the Government doing anything in the matter? From what we can gather the grievances of the men employed in this groat public service are neither slight nor ephemeral. One of the chief of these is the too rapid and general elevation of youths from the street to the operating board. This has the in- - evitable effect of diluting the general efficiency of the staff, and, of course, throwing a disproportionate amount of work on to the shoulders of the bettor men. If extra pay went with extra labour the case would bo different. But that is not the case, and the natural consequence is that many good men are seriously aggrieved and disheartened. They feel that they should participate in whatever degree of that much-vaunt-ed “square deal” of self-styled Reform there may be available. New Zealand has, in the past, always been proud, and justly proud, of its telegraph service and of its personnel. In order to maintain or restore that high standard any element of dissatisfaction should bo investigated to its origin. Whatever legitimate basis there may be for the feelings of discontent that obviously exist ought to be made the special and immediate care of the Postmaster-Gene-ral. Some of the men are so concerned that there 1 is always the possibility of serious trouble The way to advancement in salary is obscured by the department insisting upon certain examinations which are held to be more or leas useless to the great majority, an unnecessary tax on their time, and really a hindrance to improvement in the real work of despatching and receiving telegrams. We do not pretend to a knowledge of the technicalities involved, but among those in possession of the facts are experienced men who assort that the greater part of this heavy examination work should be optional, and that the taking of it or leaving it alone should not solely govern a man’s claim to higher pay so long as he gives greater labour-value in return. When the last Government was in office there arose some friction and trouble in the railway service, but all that was removed by the exercise of tact and common-sense, combined with a real desir© to justice to the employees. The percentage of cadets to proficient men m the telegraph department is said to be becoming abnormal. If that is fp, there are all the elements of grave disorder. Unless the matter is taken properly in hand and a very careful adjustment is made, the service will not retain the men of the bettor class._ The difficulties are, wo believe, not inconsiderable even now, but the longer they are neglected the harder will bo the task of correction.