WILL P. AND T. REFRAIN?

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 182, 3 August 1932, Page 5

WILL P. AND T. REFRAIN?

NO UNDERTAKING GIVEN.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.") WELLINGTON, thie day. The Postmaster-General, the Hon. A. Hamilton, states that the P. and T. Association report in reference to an embargo on the association, does not state the position accurately.

The Minister said it was indicated to the association president, on June 27 last, that it was hoped his association would have realised its actions could not have retained the good will of the Government so long as it took up an attitude so divergent from the conditions under which recognition was granted. The Minister added that he could not agree to a conference with the association until he received an undertaking that no political activities would be permitted in the future.

The president then gave a personal undertaking that no political activities would be permitted in the future and asked that the executive be allowed to meet in Wellington, so that the whole matter could be considered. On receipt of that personal undertaking the Minister agreed to the association's executive meeting yesterday in Wellington, and added that, if after the meeting the president was of the opinion that any useful purpose would be served by a personal interview, he would be prepared to see the executive, but it must be clearly understood that, if the president expressed a desire to wait upon the Minister, it would be an evidence that the association was prepared to meet the Government's wishes.

The association met and decided that, although the staff of the association and the association's paper would not be permitted to urge political changes, and that its new rule regarding political propaganda would be inoperative until it could be deleted, it was not prepared to give an undertaking to refrain from political activities in the circumstances. The Minister informed tho executive that, as it had not given such an undertaking, he could not see any good purpose would be served 'by meeting the executive.