P. AND T. UNREST.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 103, 30 April 1920, Page 6

P. AND T. UNREST.

HIGH FEELING IN AUCKLAND. EXECUTIVE MEETS TONIGHT. Tho Auckland executive of the Post and Telegraph Ollicer.s' Association is meeting to-night to decide what action shall by. taken respecting the war bonus, and to draw up, for transmission to the executive council in Wellington, the opinions of the Auckland branch regarding wages and classification for the ensuing year. It is stated by the Association that in respect to the war bonus promised by Sir Joseph Ward, repeated ami insistent requests have been adJressed to the Prime Minister and to the Post-master-General for several months past for interviews, but that evasive replies have been received. The Prime Minister, in his answers to communications from the executive, has in each instance, it is declared, regretted his inability to receive a deputation owing to pressure of public business, while the PostmasterGeneral has returned no replies whatever to "the requests. The consequence is that a feeling of intense irritation has been engendered anion? the oflieers of the Association. The executive state further that there is a growing belief among tho rank and file that loyalty to t.he service and passive resistance, are ineffective and antiquated, and that the only apparent way of prettinp a hearing and ensuring satisfactory replies to their appeals is to ■take extreme action, which a strong section of the Auckland officers favour being done immediately. As a matter of fact, they are experiencing a preafc deal of diflicultv in restraining the more impulsive spirits, particularly as they tiro ■burning under a sense of injustice to claims that they contend are in every respect, reasonable. : At thia pvpnintr's meeting the executive will also -decide whether a meetins shall be called immediately to consider the situation, or whether th«*v shall wait until the ordinary innnthlv meeting, i-which takes placo on Thursday next.

A DOMINION AGITATION. (Dy Telepr.aph- Press Association.) OAMARI', Thursday. At a record and enthusiastic meetins of the Oamar'.i branch of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association the followin" resolutions were unanimously carried: — ••T'-nt. this section enters an emnhntic protest against the methods employed by the Prime Minister and tile l'.wt-niastcr-Gener.il in avoiding the promised meeting with out executive, thereby driving us from leiritimate means of rotdross. We further voice dwciist at the manner in which Sir Joseph Ward's , promised . bonus has been flouted, and now place further action with the executive, and pledge ourselves to support whatever action they decide, to take."

"That this section de.-ires to place on record its sympathy with the railway men in the struggle for a living wage.' , FEELING IX CHRISTCHURCTC. (By Tele,2rnpli—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. Aβ far as the Christchureh branch of tho Post and Telegraph Association is concerned, inquiries made among the officials to-day go to show that at this stage the idea of ceasing work is not seriously considered. "We "would be a very 'cold-footed' crowd if the executive called us out, anil I vt-rv much doubt if there would be a general response," was how one man put it.