POSTAL OFFICERS' BALLOT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 82, 6 April 1922, Page 7

POSTAL OFFICERS' BALLOT.

810 HSUX RAISED. GOVERNMENT'S NEXT MOVE. (5y Telegraph.—Special t» "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. The Premier's comment on the result of the Post and Telegranli Officers' Association's ballot, which approved affiliation with the Alliance of Labour, suggests that there will be serious developments in the near future. The Government has not disclosed its policy, but it is evident that it regards the action of the postal employees as more detrimental to the public interest than the decision of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants some years ago to participate in the formation of the Alliance of Labour. Probably the Government will refuse to recognise the Postal Association under its new constitution. This would precipitate industrial trouble outside postal circles, as the alliance hae a membership of over 40,000 unionists. Officers of this organisation were not prepared off hand to reply to the Premier's announcement, but they will probably come into the controversy at an early date in view of the decision of the postal officers by a large majority to join the Alliance. ASSOCIATION OFFICER'S COMMENT.

"The linking up of our association with the Alliance of Labour should have no influence with the public .in regard to the secrecy of the Poet declared Mr. H. H. Brown, assistant secretary of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association, to our representative, who called his attention to the Prime Minister's comment on the ballot. "When menrfbere of the department join the service," continued Mr. Brown, "they take the oath of secrecy, and they will keep it right through their career, however great the provocation or the temptation. • In euch industrial tjiubCe as referred to "bgr Mr. Massey, they would keep to their oath, for they realise that not only is the honour of the service at stake, nut any breach of confidence is a criminal offence. The possibility of this argument being 'Drought against iw has not been overlooked during lengthy discussions of the proposal among our members, and they do not expect or anticipate that the Alliance of Labour officials will ever ask them to break their oath of secrecy." Mr. Brown was asked if he understood what the Premier was hinting at in his reference to memi>cre of the aesociatton having to choose between the Alliance and their loyalty of the Government. "I don't know what is in contemplation," replied Mr. Brown, "as it is only in tho innuendo stage, but I can assure the Premier and the public that the question of joining the Alliance of Labour has been clearly and lucidly placed before postal officers. The constitution of the Alliance was printed on the back of every ballot paper, and the association's monthly magazine has been freely open to discussion of both gides of the aubject. This opportunity has been .-fully used by supporters and opponents. There was discussion of the proposal by the executive in November. 1921. when Mr. Mack, president of the Alliance. Mr. Roberts, secretary, and Mr. W. Sullivan, president of the Amalgamated Society of Railwaymen, addressed the executive on the principles of tha Alliance. These addresses, together with the verbatim report of .t!:e executive's subsequent discussion, were printed for circulation among association members, so that they have had every opportunity of understanding the nature of the "step taken." A meeting of postal and telegraph officers opposed to affiliation is being arranged, and the outcome will be the formation of a new association. It U impossible at present to say how many members of the service would be willing to support the new body, but the number may be fairly large. It would be likely to include some employees who are not members of the. present association. A WESTLAND PROIXST. AGAINST EFFICIENCY. (By Telegraph. —r-ress Association) HOKITIKA, Wednesday. At a meeting of the Westland Chamber of Commerce, a letter was received from the secretary of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association regarding the observance of the oath of secrecy by post and telegraph officers after affiliation with the Alliance of Labour. The chamber expressed the view that the post and telegraph officers were servants of the publh as a whole, and it was not in keeping with an effective Public Service that any branch should ally itself with any particular section of the community. It was resolved to write to the secretary of the association to that effect. DISSATISFACTION IN DUNEDIN. (B.v Telejraph. —Pres» Assoct»tloin.) DUNEDIX, this day. There is dissatisfaction amongst many local members of the P. and T. Association as the result of the ballot, and it is stated that several resignations are certain. CABINET ASKED TO TAKE ACTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) TIMARU, Wednesday. A meeting of the executive »of the South Canterbury Employers' Association carried a resolution emphatically protesting against the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association joining the Alliance of Labour, and calling upon the Cabinet to prohibit the union of the two bodies.