Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, APRIL 7th, 1922 P. AND T. BALLOT.

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 April 1922, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, APRIL 7th, 1922 P. AND T. BALLOT.

TiidsE very junior members of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association, whose votes helped to secure the majority in the recent ballot in favour of the Association’s affiliation with the Alliance of Labour, must have felt very perky if by chance they happened to read yesterday’s editorial article in our morning contemporary, the tributes lavished on them being enough to make even a Sunbeam jealous. Although the Postal juniors were probably ignorant of their accomplishments, it must have been gratifying; to them to' learn that “their decision was calculated to make history,” and was also 1 “a memorable and inspiring" example to the servants of the State in every country in the world.” The raptures of our contemporary continued on such lines to the extent of a quarter of a column, and after our own perusal we felt we ought to realise that where foresight and statesmanship are concerned, Mr Lloyd George or President Harding have nothing on the Dominion s Postal cadets. Happy New Zealand! Our contemporary having exhausted its admiration, < or its vocabulary, turned to the Star, and directed our attention to its own wonderful exploit “in having backed the right horse on this occasion.” We trust we are good enough sportsmen not to begrudge our contemporary its only

and self-acclaimed triumph, although we predict that the “victory” will be nominal, as it is doubtful if the rider of the “horse” in this instance will be able to draw the weight, when placed in the scale of subsequent circumstances. As is usual, our contemporary failed to adhere to the truth when referring to the “Star,” which has not “stoodout strongly against the idea of the Postal servants linking up with the general body of Organised Labour.” We merely advised the P. and T. As sociation’s members to consider well before voting, and urged them all to vote. We agree, however, with those who declare that it was not in the best interests of the general public, nor of the P. and T. employees themselves, that affiliation with a body with aims such as dominate those who dominate the Alliance of Labour, should be supported, eyen by the 800 message boys and girls

who have won the ephemeral favour of the “Argus(h).” The Alliance put on its mildest character when, approaching the Association withits proposals, but if trouble arose, the Postal and Telegraph employees would discover that the new friend was of far more ag<>ressive character, and that resentment at the necessary retrenchment proposals might pro’s e a. costly error. We are not overworriecl, however, about the lesult of the ballot, as the new entente is not strongly founded. . The majority in favour of affiliation was 2406, but it should be remembered that over 900 members did not vote and that probably most of the 800 juveniles did so and m favour of the proposal. These figures suggest . a lack of enthusiasm for affiliation on the part of the more responsible element.m the Association, and it is that element that will be most in evidence should the Alliance of Labour attempt to take advantage of its “victory.” One thing is quite certain ; neither the Government nor the general public will stand anv nonsense from either

the Alliance or any State employees.