P. & T. OFFICERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 186, 3 May 1920, Page 5

P. & T. OFFICERS

VARIOUS BEANCH RESOLUTIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, May 2. An extraordinary meeting of the local branch of the I'. and T. Association was held on Saturday" evening to discuss tho attitude of the association towards the railway crisis and to. consider the negotiations pending .between the P. and I. Association and tho Minister-and tho Postmaster-General. The meeting:was well'attended by representatives of every branch of the. Department. The fclloVing resolutions were carried by an overwhelming majority:— : "That this meeting records its resontnienfc at the refusal hitherto of tho Prime Minister and • the PostmasterGeneral to meet the Executive Committee of the association in discussion upon tho grievances of the service and contrasts this cavalier indifference with the courteous bearing and consideration ■ of former political heads of the Department. This branch also endorses the action, of the Executive Committee in ■ insisting on ah increase of. 62. per cent. , upon the,basic wage of Wlf, and also approves of the suggestion to immediately call together the Executive Council shimld the projected interview with tho ; Prime Minister prove abortive. This branch also desires to record its sympathy with , the railwaymen in the Btruggle for better living conditions and: pledges itself to loyally support its own Executive-'Council in whatever courso their judgment leads them to follow. It wa9 also unanimously.! decided to demand the immediate payment of the wiir bonus as promised by Sir Joseph Ward. ' ■-~. -i. Discussion took place upon tho agitation for the payment of half cml pay to officers of the Department; who served at the front, and'the following resolution was unanimously adopted:— "That the ■ executive be urged to use fresh efforts to obtain half-pay [or all members who were absent-with the Expeditionary Force, It compares unfavourably tho action of this Government ia refusing half-pay to all. but. a few with that of the Home Government, which placed all its Post and Telegraph employees on full pay. It consider* a gross injustice has been done to those men who enlisted in other units in refusing to put them on the same footing as those selected lor the Postal or Signal branches of the forces."

Br Toleeraoh-Presa Association." Greymouth, May 2. The West Const section of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association held n, very largely, attended meeting to-day. Resolutions were passed unanimously _ demanding the payment-of the promised war bonus, reinstatement of officers who resigned and joined t'iie N.Z.E.F-, and a general improvement' in salaries and conditions. Tho meeting, whicih was an enthusiastic one,''ptodged itself to loyally support the association executive in securing these rights-of the .service. " '. Napier, May 2. A largely attended meeting of the Napier branch of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association this morning carried the following 'resolution unanimously: "That this large meeting of, tho Napier section expresses its'confidence in tho patience and constitutional attempts of the executive to obtain justice from the Government in regard to the present inadequate, salaries caused by the high cost ol ! living, but should a meeting with tho Prime Minister and Postmaster-Gen* oral prove abortive this section considers the time will have arrived,.for the immediate calling together of the execu-. fcivo council'for the purpose of taking a stronger line of action to obtain our just rights." ~ „ / Oamaru, May 2/ At a largely attended meeting of the Oamaru branch of' the P. and T. Officers' Association, held on Saturday night, the following resolution was unanimously carried: "That, failing an amicable settlement of the present grievances of tho P. and T. servants at the promised interview on Wednesday, our executive bo instructed to immediately call for a strike ballot."