2004

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

[No. 60

68. Junior officers learning to operate the telegraph instrument are to be treated with every consideration in so doing, as the best and shortest means of enabling them to become proficient. All attempts to work with them at a pace beyond their capacity, through impatience at their slowness, are to be stopped by supervising officers. Officers at corresponding stations, before making complaints of incompetence or slowness, must take into account the disadvantages which spring from training young officers. Supervising officers must, however, take care that the youths whose interests are thus safeguarded do not attempt to abuse the consideration and kindness shown them.

69. Postmasters and officers in charge of staffs have the grave responsibility cast upon them of seeing that the private habits of their assistants are beyond public reproach, and their conduct not likely to bring them into trouble or to discredit the Department. Should any case of improper conduct come under review which a controlling officer might reasonably have been expected by proper oversight to have prevented, the circumstance will be seriously noticed. It need scarcely be pointed out that nothing bordering on espionage, or action likely to injure the self-respect of any employee, is desired or necessary to enable responsible officers to keep in touch with the outdoor habits of the officers and other employees on their staffs.

Local controlling officers are to inform the parent or guardian of any junior officer, particularly one who is residing away from home, of any matter which comes to their knowledge affecting the conduct of the officer which it is advisable to bring under notice. This applies only to a case where the officer is under twenty-one years of age.

70. Chief Postmasters and other officers in charge of staffs should see that the following precautions, recommended by the Department of Health, are taken by persons under their control known to be suffering from consumption. The patient must carry a proper spittoon—the Deitweiller flask is recommended. (The best way to destroy the sputum is by fire, and any left in the flask should be chemically treated in order to be made innocuous.) He is to carry the flask in a pocket lined with washable stuff, so that his clothes may not become infected. If after this warning a patient is found spitting on the floor, the Secretary is to be at once informed. The practice of wetting the fingers with saliva in order to turn over the leaves of books or papers is strictly forbidden to all officers. These precautions are required to be taken in the interests of the health of officers, and if they are observed there is little or no danger of infection. Offices at which consumptive officers are stationed are to be fumigated at regular intervals. (See Rule 31 (b).)

71. The examining officer of the bulk stock of stamps held at chief post-offices is in this capacity subordinate to the Secretary alone.

72. No Postmaster or other officer may make use of any portion of official cash for private purposes. No breach of this rule will be excused.

73. (a.) Under no pretext whatever may a Postmaster permit any portion of the Post Office cash to go out of his custody, except when paid into either his official account at the bank or the Chief Postmaster’s Deposit Account, or sent as a remittance to the Chief Postmaster.

(b.) A Postmaster is not allowed to send a cheque or large bank-note to a neighbouring office for the purpose of securing cash