POST AND TELEGRAPH SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 264, 3 August 1929, Page 13

POST AND TELEGRAPH SERVICE

EMPLOYEES’ CONFERENCE. The biennial conference of the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association will open in Wellington at 10 a.m. on Monday, when thirty delegates from every section in the Dominion will meet to discuss conditions of employment, and service questions generally. The Hon. J. B. Donald (Postmaster-General) accompanied by the Acting Secretary of the Department (Mr. J. Robertson) will open the conference. It is stated on behalf of the association that under the provisions of the Post and Telegraph Department Act, 1918. the service must be reclassified in periods not exceeding five years, but, although March 31 last saw the close of the previous quinquennial period, the fact that only senior positions above the rank and file have so far been regraded, has left the major portion of the service in a quandary over .prospects of promotion and improved salaries as from April 1 last. An announcement of the Government’s policy on the general question, of salaries for' State employees is being eagerlv looked for, but the peculiar conditions of congestion in rank and file grades of the Post and Telegraph service are expected to receive particular attention from the Government, and in this regard the Postmaster-General’s address is' being awaited with interest by delegates. “Certain clauses in the Act under which the Post and Telegraph Department is admiistered were designed to keep trained officers from leaving that service for employment in other services, as bad frequently been the case up till 1918.’ runs a statement issued by the association. The barriers thus imposed were supposed to be compensated for by ready avenues of promotion within the Post and Telegraph Department itself, but, in the course of ten years a large congestion of officers on the maxima of rank and file salaries has resulted, and there are insufficient executive positions to provide for more than a small percentage getting promotion. There are approximately only 716 positions above the rank and tile throimhont the whole Dominion service, and in one class alone there are 19i2 officers at the maximum of their class in competition for those of the <l6. positions for which their particular training tits them. Amongst such officers are hundreds who have had no opportunity to improve the lowered salary conditions imposed on them by the salary cuts in 1922. and the conference will be mainly concerned with questions that have for their objects an alleviation of congested classes and the assurance of a progressive career for every employee who can meet the reonirements of nnnlifving examinations for promotion.”