P. AND T. ENQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1922, Page 5

P. AND T. ENQUIRY.

ALLEGATIONS OF UNFAIRNESS. SENIOR MEN INVOLVED. CHARGES WITHDRAWN. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The investigation into the methods of acquiring evidence by departmental officers of the Post and Telegraph Department, against whom charges of unfairness and harshness had been made by the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association, was continued before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., sitting as a Royal Commission, this morning. Mr. H. E. Combs represented the association, and the officials charged were represented by Mr. P. S. K. Macassey. Mr. Macassey, in opening for the officers, said he felt compelled to remark that each and every witness had not only failed to prove the allegations, but had, on the other hand, entirely disproved them. He thought that at this stage Messrs. Combs and Mazengarb should adopt the proper course and withdraw the letter which was the basis of the charges. Proceeding, he said he wanted to make some comment on the actions of Messrs. Mazengarb and Combs in this matter. Charges were made particularly against two of the highest officials in the Post and Telegraph Department—Messrs. Laurenson and Markman. Surely It was the duty of Mr. Mazengarb, as counsel for the association, and Mr. Combs, as secretary, to ascertain if these charges were on a solid basis before they made them. His Worship: “You cannot blame Mr. Combs!” Mr. Macassey (doubtingly) : “Well, I don’t know!”

His Worship: “He thought that Mr. Mazengarb had been through the whole business and should know.”

On being appealed to by his Worship, Mr. Combs said he knew nothing of the matters from his own knowledge. He had only been at one inquiry for about five minutes and it lasted six days. He relied on Mr. Mazengarb and considered he was quite competent. Mr. Macassey said he accepted that* When any professional man made charges of so serious a nature he should be sure of his ground. What evidence had been produced? He suggested that the whole thing was personal bias and venom against Mr. Laurenson, who had been in the department for many years and had an excellent record. He had gained the respect and admiration of all the officers. He made hundreds of investigations and there had been ten or twelve formal inquiries. They had letters from well-known counsel who represented various defendants, and magistrates before whom the inquiries were held, stating that Mr. Laurenson had been honorable and fair throughout. It remained with Mr. Mazengarb alone to come and make such charges as the present ones against Mr. Laurenson. A. D. Thomson, late civil servants’ magistrate, in evidence, said the inquiries in. question had been held before him, and he said Mr. Laurenson was fair throughout. R. B. Morris, Secretary to the General Post Office, said Mr. Mazengarb showed him a facsimile of his letter to the association before it was sent to the association, and he pointed out the unfairness of the accusations. He had never received any complaints from officers as to the methods of the officers charged, and he had every confidence in them.

Melvin Brown Esson, senior inspector, admitted warning the witnesses not to discuss evidence regarding the cades under inquiry. The suggestions that they eet out to hound down an officer could only come from a maniac. He described the procedure followed in an inquiry. The officer charged could have the matter ventilated before a Magistrate. The evidence and names of witnesses were never made available to the officer charged prior to a Magisterial inquiry. The inquiry is proceeding. Officials of the Post and Telegraph Department gave evidence denying that any improper methods had been adopted to secure evidence on chargee against officials and the usual proper procedure was carried out. In the evening Mr. Mazengarb stated a misconception had been placed on certain actions and the charges were withdrawn.