THIRD EDITION POST AND TELEGRAPH

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 134, 9 June 1919, Page 8

THIRD EDITION POST AND TELEGRAPH

THE NEW CLASSIFICATION

STEPS TAKEN TO ENSURE FAIR

PLAY.

(BI lEI.EGRAPH.—PUESS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, This' Day.

Mr. G. M'Namara, superintendent of staff lor New Zealand, and a member of the newly constituted Promotion Board, addressed a very large meeting of officers of the Post and Telepraph Association. Mr. M'Namara said the maximum agreed to for a first-class rank and file clerical officer was £270 pel' annum. The current list was compiled on this basis, but if it was found that any other of the signatories to the agreement failed to observe this amount as a maximum, neither would the Post and Telegraph Department, and a re-schedule would take place immediately. Noteworthy steps had been taken to ensure fair play. Owing to the higher increments now prevailing, and the different subdivisions it was'nbt always possible to avoid mistakes. Members must remember that with the new regulations the Secretary had power to set right an error ff such existed. It was estimated that the cost of the increases would be £150,000. Thus being so, officers could realise' why m one year it was not practicable to satisfy all hands. The Department could not be run on exactly the same lines as a mercantile house. It was the intention of the Department to select the best men and put them in charge, and pay adequately for the work done. Merit, and merit' alone, would be the sole factor for promotion, but at the same time, the second-raters would receive a living wage. Commenting on the question as to a statement that other portions of the Public Service were to receive an increase of not less than £45 per annum, Mr. M'Namara advised the officers to wait and see,: reminding them of the previous experiences with -the Commissioner. If it was found that the rest of the service did obtain ■ greater concessions, then the Post and Telegraph Department would not be found wanting in bringing their schedules into line. Mr. Shrimpton, Chief Telegraph Engineer," and a member of, the Promotion Board, stated that the installation of automatic exchanges would1 not result in the dismissal of any permanent switchboard .attendants. Work would be found for them.

It was, felt by many of those present that the explanations were fair and reasonable, and would allay some of the unrest that prevailed. ■ „/