P. AND T. SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1919, Page 4

P. AND T. SERVICE.

THE QUESTION OF A BONUS. STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The question of the payment of the war bonus uj) to September HO last to officers of the Post and Telegraph Department was referred to, in an interview, by the Hon. J. 0. Coates. The Minister Raid that when he took over the portfolio of Postmaster-General one of the first things he was asked to do was to carry out me promise alleged to have been made by Sir Joseph Ward, when Postmaster-Genera! in the National Government, that a war bonus would be granted to postal officers from October 1, 1918, to October 1, 1919. He had not then looked into the matter, and his reply was that if a promise was on record in the departmental files and he was able to do so, he would meet the promise. He found on the file the following minute by Cabinet, dated December 5, 1918. To a recommendation by Sir Joseph Ward, then Minister for Finance: "The war bonus to be for twelve months from October 1, 1918, to October 1, 1910, excepting in cases where regrading takes place or where there have been increases of salary, and where there have been increases of salaries, the original bonus to be paid to March 31, 1019." He also found a departmental circular by the Secretary to the Treasury, dated December U,' 1918, in which the following appeared: "I have to advise you that Cabinet has decided to double the war bonus for the year commencing October 1, 1918. Conditions will, however, be sowewhat different from those which obtained in the past. In cases where there have been increases of salary for any portion of the above period the increased bonus will not be paid for any portion of the year as may be covered by increased pay." The nest stage was readied when the Hon. W. D. S. MaeDonald was acting Postmaster-General," and the Hon. A. M. Myers was acting Finance Minister, when on April 15, 1919, Cabinet came to the following decision, vide departmental records:—(l> Cabinet decisions of sth and 11th December are cancelled; (2) the second grant of war bonus to be for siy months commencing October 1, 1918. Beyond Cabinet minutes on the question there was nothir.g in the records to show that a fresh decision was come to after Sir Joseph Ward returned to New Zealand, or that Sir Joseph Ward made the promise. Mr. Coates said he approached the executive officers of the Post and Telegraph Officers Association for definite evidence of the promise stated to have been made, but they could give him nothing tangible to go 'on.