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TELEPHONE TROUBLES.
EMPLOYEES DISCONTENTED.
LAD FINED À WEEK'S PAY.
Tihe Prime Minister, commenting
(says the "Sun" of April ;5) on his re-,
cent visit to Sydney G^P.O., stated
that everything, was in a "cheerly con-
dition," but this. view to a'large-ex-
tent is not shared by tho employees.
The servants of the puiblic are thank-
ful to the press for the publicity which
has been given to their conditions of
?work, -which has to a Certain extent
been tho means of their, amelioration.
Commenting on.the service generally,
a telephonist made the following inter-
esting statement : -
"Tho prominence of the telephone
system and its shortcomings is loom-
ing larger and larger each day in the
public eye, and calls for a few remarks
on the working conditions of-the male
telephonist and the reason-of his grad-
ual disappearance. A lad enters the
department and serves six months' pro-
bation, after which, if suitable, he is
permanently employed, and starts at
tho munificent, salary of £39 yearly,
which is slowly increased until it reaches
the maximum of £110. His (hours of
duty are usually; made up of long
night shifts of nine hours' 'duration,
although in some exchanges he is per-
mitted tb 1I.0 a little day duty as well.
Ho is under constant supervision cf the
strictest kind, being severely fined for
the slightest broach of any of the al-
most innumerable . instructions.
"The system of' reporting and fining
officials calls for some explanation. Tho
procedure is briefly this: A supervis-
ing offieer inspects the exchange' ?and
staff ; he may not nt the time - make,
aiiy charges for breaches he ni ay dis
cover, but some days later a report
is handed to tho unfortunate official
to admit or deny the charge, and ask-
ing if he elects to be dealt with by the
Deputy Poetma9ter-Gencrai. This is
simply, departmental sarcasm, for it is
immaterial whether an officer elects to
ïô(doalt with by the Deputy P.M.G-.
or not; the Deputy as head of tho de-
partment will halve jurisdiction over
him, tho only difference being that if
a man elects to be detil^ with without
any trouble ilio may under one'section
of tho regulations bo fined 2s. Gd;, and
under the other ba fined £10 and also
suspended. In,-cither casa he has no
appeal from tho decision arrived at,
nor can he see tho whole of the evi-
dence'used against Ihini.
"A junior telephonist on £S2 was fin
ed_£l_for incorrectly ringing on a cer-
tain line. The error was unintentional
and trivial, yet tho lad was fined con-
siderably over a weok's.salnry. Ho was
further so saverely .fined for potty of
fonces that he was forced to leave the;
Service. Another junior has had his
increment stopped for being fined 5s.
during the. preceding 12 months, which
means that for a potty offence an offi-
cer was actually fined to the extent of
£3 5s. in bwng deprived of his increase.
It is doubtful, if 'such a system of pun-
ishing a man twice 'for the sanie offence
would be tolerated anywhere oise but
jn tho Telephone Department. Another
instance mai? be quoted whero a youth
was brought from a country town to
tho G.P.O. on the salary of £32 yearly.
He rnipculed repeatedly to bo trans-
ferred to his own town when vacancies
occurred, but his appeals were unheed-
ed until in desperation, finding that he
could not live away from home on the
money he" was receiving, coupled with
tho usual fines, he resigned,"
Could Hardly Speak.-"-Wc uso Dr.
Sheldon's New Discovery, 'and find it
a good euro for colds, and always keep
a bottle in the house," writes Mr.
Jonas Hawkes, .Warren-road, Mordial-
loc, Victoria. "Tho first time wo used
it my brother could hardly speak, but
after ono dose he slept, and on awaken-
ing had quitc_ recovered his voice. Wo
alw.ivs take it for a cold." Price, 1/0
and 3/.*
$