P. AND T. SERVICE

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 281, 25 November 1921, Page 2

P. AND T. SERVICE

OFFICERS MEET. OPPOSE REDUCTION. AND CRCfE STATE LOTTERY. The TiiPi'iing L-onvened by the Poet and Telegraph Oflieere' Association to diecuae (lie mutters of retrenchment, reduction in salaries, and suggestions whereby both may he obviated, was duly held last evening, about 200 members attending. Mr. \V. 11. Varnell presided. After discussion on Hie various points at iwnc reaolut-ionß were passed us follows:— "That ihi« section is of the opihion that membors of the Post AnA Telegrkpli Department have already been forced to inakti a sacfiflee by bein"_ refused the 10 I>er cent ibcreuse due on flip <-ost of living fiorures published by the Government Statistician in September. 1920; that as the cost, of livinp has not fallen to Wl per cent any reduction of ealariee would bo a "ross injustice and a further breach of faith: should such an attempt l»e made wo pledge ourselves to support the executive committee to the fullest ertent in any action it. may ftee fit to take: in order that united action may be taken the executive committee Ix 4 requested to confer with the other branches of the Public forvice to arrive at a uniform course of action: and Urging that all officers reduced or dismissed lindor the retrenchment scheme be grunted the fight of inquiry und«r section 7 of the Poet and Teletrraph Act. Proposals regarding ways and nleans of inI'lvasinjj the revenue w«re next dealt with, and the recent. balanoe-she«?t was reviewed by a. member, who showed that the Post Oflicp. showed a credit of about £130.000. while th<» Telegrapli Departmeut lost about ill3s>,<)D. It was also mentioned that a 'huge amount of work was done for other Departtnenie. for wllicfi iid credit wae given. The proposals were as follows: —

"That owing to the loss of revenue, about £50.000 annually, in the poat. and telegraph through outside bodies interfering in our business who now criticise our expenditure, we urge that the restrictions governing tele>n-a.ms relating to horse rating be removed, that telegraph offices agiiifi 1)5 established on racecourses. and that the newspapers be ■riven freedom iii reporting the results". Tt is the opinion of this meeting that these suggestions, if adopted, would not increase gambling, biit would divert into lawful channels the money now expended on the numerous and ever-inefpusing bookmakers."

'That in view of the lursre amount of money leaving New Zealand for investment in foreign lotteries—a low estimate is £2.000,000 annually —this meeting is in favour of the Government running a lottery for the benefit of the State; the bueines9 could be executed through the post offices of New Zealand at little expense.