CO129-264 - Governor Sir Robinson & Public Offices - 1894 [9-12] — Page 499

494

aware that this duty had fallen to them but plead that the absence of Mr. Silva and Mr. Allen threw more work on their shoulders, and that this was the cause of the delay.

This may constitute an extenuating circumstance but does not in my opinion exonerate them from blame in the matter.

On the 19th July I caused to be circulated throughout the office the following extract from C.S.O.1318/94 of the 18th July "I am to suggest that in order to make your staff realise the determination of His Excellency that the General Post Office shall become as efficient as it ought to be, you should inform them that any dereliction of duty on the part of a subordinate officer will be dealt with severely during the coming year."

Again on the 6th August, on the occurrence of a delinquency similar to that now reported, I issued an instruction to the following effect: "The officer closing a mail must have it ready to go on board the launch five minutes after the advertised time for closing special attention was drawn to these words, which were mentioned in red ink.

In the present instance, though the mail was booked to close at 11:30 a.m. and the steamer's time of sailing was 12 p.m., the bags did not leave the office till 12:5 p.m. and were not on board till 12:30 p.m.

As this appears to be a dereliction of duty against which the paragraph from C.S.O. 1318/94 already quoted was directed, I have no recourse but to bring the matter to the notice of His Excellency the Governor, and to submit that Messrs. Barradas be informed that in the recurrence of such lapses without good cause shown their services will be no longer required.