Statement of Prime Minister Challenged

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 864, 7 January 1930, Page 1

Statement of Prime Minister Challenged

TELEGRAPH DISMISSALS BOOKMAKER’S MESSAGES “A perusal of the charge-sheets shows that in two cases only was the divulgencs of information made the subject of charges/* T'lis opinion was expressed by members of the telegraph staff of the Chief Post Office at Auckland, and by the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association, in connection with the statement made by Sir Joseph Ward that it was quite clear that, the charge made against the six dismissed telegraphists was of divulging the contents of telegrams passing through the office. The speakers said the information published was somewhat contrary to facts. Replying to the latter part of Sir Joseph’s statement, in which he says he lias no jurisdiction in the matter of modifying the secretary’s decision, section 5, clause A, of the Post and Telegraph Act, 1928, was quoted, which states: “The Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department shall, under the direction of the Minister, have control and general administration of the department.” “From this it "would appear that the Minister has every right to intervene should he so desire,” was the general opinion.

The Post and Telegraph Employee:-:’ Association has the matter in hand, and developments are awaited by the different staffs at the Chief Post Office. The opinion is widely held that the question should go to the Supreme Court, where the department’s activities, especially regarding facilities' given to bookmakers, would come under the searchlight.