P. AND T. BALLOT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 82, 6 April 1922, Page 2

P. AND T. BALLOT.

BUSINESS MEN PROTEST.

CALL TO THE GOVER^LENT-

LEGISLATION SUGGESTED

At. a luncheou of members of the Chamber of Commerce in the Town Hall to-day an expression of opinion, followed by a resolution deprecating the alliance of any body of public servants witli an outside sectional organiEa-tion, was a feature of the proceedings- X-r- A. G. Uma (ex-president of the Chamber) stated that the action of i-he P. and T. Officers' Association was one the whole of the conwnunity must regard with the greatest regret. He was satisfied it was a false move, and had been tak«n without proper consideration. The only gratifying feature of it was that a large proportion of the members were dissa-tiulied with thr decision, and be Vμ satisfied that if the eituaijon was handled properly 50 per cent of those who had voted for affiliation with the AHi*n«e oi labour would turn over and vote on the other side. It was inconceivable that any body of public servants in thie country should be allowed to affiliate with another body whose interests were sectional and opposed to tie Government, and that had not scrupled to state that it would take any action that would injure the Government, and would consequently hurt the people Jis a whole. Hβ moved: "That the association or affiliation of any of our public service bodies with sectional organisations such as the Alliance of labour would be subversive of good government and opposed to the public interest, and that the Government be urged to take all possible steps to oppose such affiliation.' . He was eatisJied that when the P. and T. offia;rs realised in what direction their action tended, the thing would be stopped immediately. It w»e inconceivable that they should sulwiit themselves to the dictates of any public or self-constituted body that had a tendency to go on the lines of the Communists of Russia. If these tilings were allowed it was as> certain as that night follows day that the country was on the high road to conditions something like obtained in Russia, or to civil war.

Mr. R. L. Stewart seconded the motion, and stated that the P. and T. men could not serve both the Government and the Alliance of Labour. He felt that the resolution should go further and bo a. little stronger. He thought that tiie Government should be urged to bring down legislation to prevent those in their employ having the right to join up with such a body as the Alliance of Labour.

Mr. S. I. Crookes stated that in conversation with a senior officer of the P. and T. service, he learned that there were in the service thousands of numbers under 21 years of age, and-this man though their big vote had decided the question. The majority of the senior and responsible nr-en in the eerviue had, it was said, intimated their intention to secede from the association on account of the ballot. In consequence the speaker would not like to see a motion go out from this meeting of business men of Auckland which would hurt the feelings of men ivho realised their responsibilities to the service and to the community.

Mr. l>iinii remarked that the resolution had been specially framed to avoid {riving offence to such men as Mr. Crooke? mentioned, and the president endorsed that, opinion.

Mγ. C. E. Major stated tha.t tbe meeting should be careful not to be a party to a-nything that would result in the P. and T. oflirere, and Die rank and file of th' , 'Jovernment service, being dragooned into a position which they did not wish to occupy. He moved as an amendineot. "That the Ciamber of Commerce Committee take tlie necessary steps to interview representatives of the 1". and T. Department in the Auckland province and discuss the matter before passing so drastic a resolution .as a-sk-ing the Government to practically dragoon them into reversing the course they have pursued. , ' Instead of compelling people who had takt-n the action of the V. and T. Association, concluded Mr. Major, those who thought otherwise should argue the matter with them quietly.

Mr. «et-oi)ded tbp amendment, which was lost on the voices, only the mover and seconder voting for it. The motion was carried, Mr. Major being , the only dissentient.