P. AND T. EMPLOYEES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 64, 17 March 1933, Page 8

P. AND T. EMPLOYEES

DEADLOCK ENDING?

MINISTER'S ATTITUDE

There is a prospect of the difficulty between the Post arid Telegraph Employees' Association , and the Government being amicably settled, thus ending an extraordinary position which has persisted for about nine months. Tho association has ,a membership of several1 thousand postal workers, whose conditions and grievances have in the past been regularly represented to the head of the Department and the Post-master-General for adjustment. But, since last May, it has been refused recognition, and has been unable to deal officially with any matters affecting its members' interests. The ban on the association involved several other serious deprivations. The Department, with the concurrence of association members, had been in the habit of deducting their monthly subscription from the salary cheque, but this ceased, and the association was obliged to collect dues itself. Its official journal could not be circulated free through the Department, and posting of notices relating to association business was prohibited on the Department's premises, while its paid officers were not permitted to gain access to post offices excepting those portions open to the general public. _ The trouble arose over political activities by the organisation or a portion of it. A complaint was made by the Thames. Chamber of Commerce that members of the association in that locality had been circularised by the secretary of the local branch enumerating the 'names of eleven business men who could not see their way to sign a petition against further wage cuts, and stating: "It is the intention of members of my organisation to place the boycott against the undermentioned firms." The official ban was placed on the association, which failed even to secure interviews with the head of the Department or the Postmaster-Gene-ral to discuss the deadlock. CONSTANT EFFORTS. ■ Constant efforts were made by the association to secure its former status, but even as late as last month the Department refused leave without pay to the members of the executive of the organisation to hold a meeting in Wellington. The Government's attitude was explained in a letter to the association, from the Postmaster-General (tho Hon. A. Hamilton) on June 27, when he stated: "It appears'even now that so long as your association identifies itself with political activities, recognition will not be granted. I regret I cannot see that any good would come from a conference with me until your association gives to mo an undertaking that no political activities will be permitted in the future." . The president, Mr. W. F. Kent Johnston, in the course of (his reply to this communication, stated: "I would be prepared to give my personal undertaking that no political activities of a party nature will be so permitted." This, however, was officially regarded as inadequate, the secretary of the Department pointing out in a subsequent letter to the president: "You mention in your letter that you are prepared to give your personal undertaking that political activities of a party nature will not be permitted. X.am afraid that you have not realised that no reference has been made to.'party politics,' but to political activities in general." This was the position of 'the deadlock until a few weeks ago, when certain proposals were made to tho Post-master-General'from the association, and they are to be brought before Cabinet .at the first suitable opportunity. It is expected that the long deadlock willthen come to an end, and the association be able to resume its full legitimate functions.