DECISION TO STAND

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 285, 6 January 1930, Page 2

DECISION TO STAND

Per Press Association.

THE DIS3IISSED TELEGRAPH OPERATORS. GOVERNMENT HAS KO AUTHOEITY.

WELLINGTON, Saturday. The following statement was made this afternoon by the Prirne Ministei" concerning the disnnssal of certain men in the Auckland Telegraph Office : "I have taken. the opportunity of seeing the official papers, and it is quite clear that the cliarge made agamst the officers and field proved by the Magistrate was of divulging contcnts of telegrams passing through the office. Everyone will realise the greatest importance ot maintaining secrecy in t!ie telegraph office, and there is no doubt that the service reudered by telegraph offices would be of little value both commercially and privat-ely if the strictest secrecy were not maintained. The law of the country is--and this is confirmed by the law officers of the Crown — that the secretary ot the Post Office lras complete control of the staff and his decision in clisciplinary matters can be reviewed only by the Board of Appeal, which board the dismissod men have to approach. Tlie previous Parliament put this law into effect with the ohjoct of eiiMiring non-political control of State scrvices, and the Government has no antlioritv to rescmd or deal witli^ the L'havgcs against these officers. Under the Act it is removed from the control r»f the Postmaster-Geueral 01* any Miixister to d.eal with."