Post and Telegraph Officers' Association.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 76, 1 April 1891, Page 3

Post and Telegraph Officers' Association.

DEPUTATDN TO THE POSTMASTERGENERAL. Messrs. Yomg (Dunedin)OxlBy (Dnnedin), Andrewß (Chiatohuroh), and Beswick (Wellington), offiora of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Sooity, waited npon the Hon. J. G.Ward, Poalnaster-Genei'al, at the General Poet Ofßco ths afternoon. Mr. Yonni acted as spokesman, and •sited the Pot master-General to grant an pffioial reoogntion of the Society. It was thought straige that the recognition had already >een refußed on the pr.ound that the fciooity'a rules did not conform to the Civil iervioe regulations. So far from this bom? the case, they had Bought to conform b the regulations to the follest possibli extent. On behalf or the Exeoutive heould give an assurance that thuir rules did lot provide for any attempt at aggressive aition, nor was snoh action contemplated, "hoy wished to assist the department in eiery way. and could assure the Minister thathe would never be troublr d with any frivtlons complaint. Every grievance would have to be enquired into and filtered through the local branch of the Excoutive, which irould brinqf it before the heads of the department. The Ministerial ruling would be biwed to in every poasible way. The Poßtmastor-General eiid he wsa glad to meet the deputation, as it gave him an opportunity of expluning how the present Government viewed their Association. As an Association to assist its members in improving their positions, it had the support and sympathy of Ministers. But when it was asked that the Society and its rule* should be officially reoogni«ed, they felt bound to deoline the request. The Viotorian and New Sjuth Wales Governments had found themselves obliged to give a similar reply to suoh a request. The Sooiety must oleirly understand that -they must form their own regulations. Tho position was this— Every ordinary reprolenUtion from au officer with a grievance iame before the Ministerial head, who wai upposed to consider the matter impartially ■nd reply accordingly. If the Sooiety were ffioially recognised such grievances would ome to the Minister through the Exeoutive if the Sooiety instead of through the official ■cad of the department. Mr. Young said the Minister had misundertood him. It was desired that ordinary aplioitions should ome to the Minister irough the ordinary ohannel. Only where lere wts a grievance which there seemed o chance of getting remedied would any ppeal ba made to the local eooiety, and by lem through the Exeoutive to the Minister. The Postmaster- General said every officer lonld have full opportunity of obtaining jecess for a grievance. There was no desire t stifle the Association, because Ministors •nsidered it a very propor body. But if it inrped the f unotions of the administrative lad the two interest! would olash There «uld not poisibly be two heads controlling ie department, so he could not recognise tern officially. Mr. Young asked whether the authoritie s euld reoeive suggestions from the ExeouIre at to the mode of redressing grievances o amending anomalies in the classification Acme. The Postmaster-General said anyreoomnndation made by any officer through' the vial ohannel would be reoeived w'jth ic■?ot. Mr. Toung— But the Sooiety wonld not. 'he Postmaiter-General said that was a ver different thing. If the Eooiety were not oftially reoegniced its communications conld no be replied to. He was, however, dosirus to give every officer an opportunity of edress, and a lector sent by any officer wold be considered by the Cabinet. lr. Yonng — Cut the Government do not vie- our Association with an unfriendly eye, ancwill not interfere with it as long aa it taki a legitimate course of action ? Tb Postmaster- General -So long as jonr Atsoiation is for the benefit of tho officers asarhole, and does not run counter tb tho p'ubb interests, there is no objrotion. Anythin) we can do to improve the Btitua of the dicers, or the system, and generally of redrssing grievances that are fairly repreB«ntd, the Government is anxiouaV Ji>.~ }S.i Young asked whether the * "»ul reoeive letters from the Executive /jitfing out anomalies in the ffreeent olassificaion ? Tio Postmaster- General sai he oould not, as bo o'Msifioilion was settl' Jby Aote, and washus t ejond the powi r ofAne Government. Tht Act provided a onrtaiu course for redeis. If it was found that the Aot did not work /satisfactorily the queaVtou we ' «rif O j whether it needed amendment, s , *io meantime the present provision? \ complied with. Personally hi rot i<; .devote considerable time to goWfC> _ ,»ery oomplaint pnt before bun, a<*i^ due consideration to every represen made. In answer te t. Young, the PostmasterGeneral said tint if he were at Bared that officers had withheld their appeals against the present olaatigoation until after the time they were reoeVable. in the hope that the Association woild be reoogcised, he would extend the tinn for lodging appeals, provided the Goverimtnt had the power. ' Mr. Beswiok aske4 whtther it was considered that the offices had dono wrong in associating thomsolvos together He pointed out that any representation! their Executive made' would first have- be«n considered by the branches thronghont the colony. The Association did not wish to be considered to be doing anything to foment dissatisfaction or insubordination, even supposing they did not get what they asked for. The Postmaster-Gineral thought the officer! were certainly nit wrong in combining. As long as their rules were not calculated to affeot discipline they were quite right, and the Government approved of then improving themselves within the limits ol the regulations. He jointed out one rnlc (allowing the admiisionof outsiders to mem.

bership) to whioh the Government could not on any account ajree. Mr. Younj Eaid a motion had been tabled at today's meeting t'- ctrike out this rule. Thero were also others to whioh the department might object, and whioh would be Btrack out. The Poatmaster General pointed out tb»t provision already existed under which the H^affs of tho different stations wore able to make recommoudat'oDs, and to these due weifht would be given. Mr. Young said there was a fcelinjr amongst the officers th ".t mai>y of them bad not been placed as bi'jh in the c'lasifioition aB they ought to be. Would the Minister receive representations about that ? The Postmastor-General audited that the men could approaoh the Government as staffs. At this stage the interview d ; (?ressed into general convert ation as to the manner in which the officers had been olaEßified. The deputation complained that classification of merit had been made subordinate to length of service. They also pointed out there ought tn be some fixed period beyond which an officer could not be ke.pt in a particular olass. At prcEent a man might be blocked for 20 or 25 yoara bofore he oould be advanced to the next grade. The question of the advancement of the younger offiaors of the department being blooked having been discussed, and the Minister h»ying promised to carefully consider the points raised, the interview dosed.