Sir Joseph Ward as Postmaster-General

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 846, 14 December 1929, Page 5

Sir Joseph Ward as Postmaster-General

m COBBE-DEFENCE MR StDEY TAKES JUSTICE /Via Association AELLINGTO.V, Today. Th« Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, announced today that consequent upon the appointment of the Hon. T. M. Wilford as High Commissioner, and the resignation, by him, of his portfolios, the following changes in the ministerial offices have been decided upon: The Hon. T. K. Sidey is to be Minister of Justice and Minister in Charge of the Police and Prison Departments. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe relinquishes the portfolio of Industries and Commerce and becomes Minister of Defence and Minister of War Pensions. The Hon. J. B. Donald relinquishes the portfolio of Postmaster-GeneraJ and Minister of Telegraphs and becomes Minister of Industries and Commerce. Sir Joseph Ward relinquishes the Department of Tourists and Health Resorts and becomes Ppstmaster-Gen-eral and Minister of Telegraphs. The Hon. P. A. de la Perelle assumes the control of the Tourists and Health Resorts Department. Referring to the changes, the Prime Minister stated that as the defence portfolio was a heavy one, it was desirable that Mr. Cobbe should be relieved of one of the present offices, and in view of Mr. Donald’s long anil extensive business experience it was fitting that the position of Minister of Industries and Commerce should be entrusted to him. With regard to the PostmasterGeneralship,, Sir Joseph Ward said: Prom 1831 to 1896 and again from 1899 to 1912, I held this portfolio, and It can readily be understood that my interest in the Postal Department, which grew gradually over all those sears, has been maintained. Since I have been Prime Minister it has been repeatedly brought under my notice that there are varying conditions of employment in the different Government departments without apparently any reason for differentiation. So that I may have an opportunity of examining the question in detail I have decided to take over the portfolio of Postmaster-General and arrange for a full investigation of the reasons, if any, for the difference in treatment of various departments as the matter should be cleared up early "My previous experience as Post-master-General will enable me to do this with greater ease than if I had to approach the subject ‘de novo.’ At first glance it seems to be rather unusual that a railway porter rises in five years to an adult’s wage of £4 Os 8d a week, whereas a postman in the same time reaches a wage of £2 6s Od nnly. These and similar questions have been coming under my notice for some time and I propose to have them fully inquired into at once. "It will be rememeored that Parliament agreed last session that the queslion of wages of public servants should be inquired into during the re:pss."