P. AND T. OFFICERS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 102, 4 May 1925, Page 12

P. AND T. OFFICERS

AN APATHETIC MEETING

SECRETARY'S PARLIAMENTARY ASPIRATIONS ENDORSED.

(BT TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

CHEISTCHURCH, 3rd May. A special general meeting of the Canterbury section of the Post and TeUgraph Officers' Association considered the questions of agreeing to allow the general secretary (Mr. li. E. Combs) to stand for Parliament, and rescinding the resolution to affiliate with the Alliance of Labour. Mr. H. B. Ward presided over a small attendance. The chairman moved:—"(a) That this section, recognising Mr. Combs's worth apd ability, and believing that irrespective of the party he would be an asset to Parliament, extends to him cordial good wishes for success at the forthcoming General Election; (b) that Mr. Combs s services as permanent secretary oo retained in the meantime should he be successful in gaining political honours m December next; (c) that one hundred and twelve days' accumulated leave be granted Mr. Combs as early as possible; this section is of opinion,' however, that any such accumulation of leave is wholly undesirable, and strongly urges the executive committee to guard against any repetition of the same hi the future; (d) that the section, recognising that the association consists of_ approximately 8000 members with widely differing views on matters political and otherwise, is strongly averse to the use of the 'Katipo' for party propaganda, and advises the executive accordingly. "

The chairman deprecated the Wellington section's attack on Mr. Combs, who, he said, had done good work for the association. Political rights had heen adyocated by the association, and, that being the case, it was unfair to deny Mr. Combs such a right himself, since ho had placed his resignation in tho hands of the association.

lhe motion was passed after some discussion on clause (d), the opinion being expressed that the columns of the 'Katipo" had been used too much in the past for political purposes. The view was also expressed that there was room lor considerable improvement in tho matter published in the magazine. _ The chairman moved that the executive take steps to rescind the motion relative to the-decision to affiliate with the Alliance of Labour. He submitted that instead of gaining anything by deciding to affiliate with the alliance, members had in fact gone back. Mr. Turner said, there was no chance of any Government in future allowing Public servants to join up with the outside Labour organisation, owing to tho confidential nature of their work. Tho only way to get their grievances seen to was through members of Parliament. If there were a strike at any time, thecommercial community would get together and break it, as telegraphs were essential to them.

The alliance was described by Mi-. Lawrence as a useless body, of no service to Labour, and of no use to the association. He knew it would not be unacceptable to the Government if the whole body of Public servants were placed under the Arbitration Court, but he hoped this would nßver come about, as it would not benefit the association.

As the meeting had dwindled to less than a_ quorum, the matter will have to bo decided at a later date.