TELEGRAPH MESSENGERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 285, 26 August 1908, Page 7

TELEGRAPH MESSENGERS.

THE TROUBLE ENDED. It is officially stated that the troublo in, connection with which it was. reported that' tlio telegraph messengers at the General Post Office had threatened to striko to-mor-row, has boen settled satisfactorily. Under the old scale of salaries (up to April last) first year boys were paid £26 per annum, and £1 per month bonus. The unauthorised bonus had been added to the scale of wages in order to make up tlio weekly wago to 15s. Under the new scale salaries have been increased, and the bonus reduced. First year boys aro now paid £31 a year and 12s: per month bonus.

The mother of one of the local telegraph messengers called at.tlio offico of this paper yestorday to emphasise the alleged grievance of the boys. She sated that it was her feon's third, year in the service. He was to have started at 15s. a week and to receive 2s. 6d. rise por year, yet when she called on the Officer-in-Cliarge he explained to her that it would bo all right, anil that for the future her boy would rcceivo £40 a year. She thought that sounded all right until she reckoned it out when she found that it only meant' 15s. a week. The lady could not understand the, position that had been created, and her visit to the Telegraph Office had not cleared up the matter. Otliers besido the lady in question would like to see the boys' wages placed on an easily understandable basis. The Department conciliated yesterday by paying out to the boys a furthor portion of tlio moneys wluch the boys allege has been withheld. One lad who said that £4 was due him—£l a month from April to July inclusive—stated that ho had received 9s. 7d.' two days ago and yesterday afternoon ho was given another £1. ss. sd. Paying the lads in this manner would confuse maturer minds than those under the khaki caps of the messenger servico.