Some references to aspects of the conditions for Telegraph Messengers in the post-Federation period are:
A comment by a Messenger about the position of a Messenger is told from the heart in an article in the Sunday Times of 25 January 1920.
In October 1903, "at a meeting of the Executive Council, a regulation was passed providing that for the future, applicants for the position of telegraph messenger must be between the ages of 13 and 15 instead of between 12 and 14, as at present".
"There are to be no more grey-headed Telegraph Messenger 'boys' in the Postal Department" says the Melbourne Argus of the 18 April 1904. "The Postal Act provides that the boys must retire from the service when they attain the age of eighteen years unless they are previously promoted to some senior position.
To enable those messengers who are approaching the maximum age to qualify for promotion, a special examination will be held throughout the Commonwealth on the 9th of July. The subjects set will be hand writing, spelling and arithmetic. Telegraph messengers who have already secured half marks in these subjects at any Commonwealth public service examination will not have to submit themselves again, and those who were appointed prior to the 1st of January 1901 are also eligible for transfer without further examination.
By this system only the brightest boys remain in the service and, from their ranks, the other branches of the general division are recruited".
An alternative strategy was announced by the Postmaster-General in October 1905 (see SMH 24 October 1905):
"... in dealing with tenders for contract post offices in future, the Department will give preference to telegraph messengers who have had to retire in accordance with the Public Service regulations. This, he admits, will not open up an avenue of employment for many of these lads, but it will be of use to some. The minimum salary is only £65 per annum, but it will be of use until they find something more remunerative. He proposes that their parents shall enter into the necessary recognisances on their behalf".
In August 1906, Mr. Tom Brown, M.P. gave
Raising the entry age level."notice of a bill to amend the Public Service Act under which telegraph messengers may be compulsorily retired at the age of l8 years. The principal clauses of the bill prescribe that messengers shall cease to be employed as such unless the Public Service Commissioner extends the period. The Commissioner may extend the age from 18 to 20 years in any case where the messenger has passed the proscribed examination and any messenger, if eligible, may be appointed to or transferred to any other position in the Public Service".
"By an Act passed by the Commonwealth Parliament, during the recent session, the age at which telegraph messengers may be employed was raised. The Postmaster-General has now approved of a new regulation relating to the conditions of employment of messengers. This provides that the age of candidates at the date of examination for admission to the service shall be raised from between 13 years and 15 years to between 14 years and 16 years. The date of appointment is to be raised accordingly. Messengers may remain in the service until 20 years of age instead of 18 years of age if they pass the necessary examination before reaching the age of 18 years".
Bendigo Advertiser 14 January 1910.
Age and size.
In the Sydney Evening News of 5 July 1906, a problem was noted:
"Some time ago, there were complaints about many of the telegraph messengers being overgrown. No such grievance can exist at present, however, the department having gone to the other extreme.
We have no doubt, of course, that all the lads now employed are of the legal age of fourteen; but some of them look extremely young for that age and give the public the impression that when not employed on the urgent work of the service, they are occupying baby-chairs and eating bread and milk in the infantile section of the post office.
We would suggest that the department employ the children at suburban offices and keep the manlier and more experienced youngsters for the work
of the city".
"Telegraph boys all over Australia arc to have a clear half-hour off every day for lunch. Mr. Chapman, the Postmaster General, has authorised the employment, of additional hands in Sydney in order that this arrangement may be carried out".
Bendigo Advertiser 28 June 1907.
Duties of a Messenger.
There were a number of discussions over the years about the duties which could and should be carried out by Messengers. An importnt discussion conducted in the Legislative Council of Victoria and reported in the Argus of 29 September 1896 was summarised as:
"Mr Cook will inquire how much telegraph messengers are performing operators duties, and if there is any hope of then being promoted"?