P. AND T. EMPLOYEES

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 June 1939, Page 5

P. AND T. EMPLOYEES

ANNUAL RE-UNION. The annual re-union of members of the Greymouth Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association was held in the Druids’ Hall on Saturday evening, Mr. S. R. Moreland (president) presiding over an attendance of approximately 100 members and visitors. Guests included the Chief Postmaster (Mr. C. W. Browne) and Mrs. Brown, Mr. J. O’Brien, M.P., the Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham), and Mr. H. H. Brown (Dominion Organiser of the Association). Mesdames Browne and M. K. B. Sheard represented the P. and T. Women’s League. Apologies included one from Mr. J. G. Young (Acting Director-General). After the loyal toast, the following toasts were honoured: “Post and Telegraph Department” (the Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham)—Mr. C. W. Browne); “The Association” (Mr. C. E. Butcher—-Mr. H. H. Brown); “Parliament (Mr. M. K. B. Sheard —Mr. J. O’Brien, M.P.); “The'Ladies” (Mr. D. M. Gordon—Mr. P. Coll); “District members” (Mr. W. H. Hansen — Messrs. J. Telfer (Hokitika), and L. O’Neill (Westport); “Superannuated Officers” (Mr. S. J. Hayden—Messrs. J. T. Martin (Auckland), G. Pratt and 0. Isdell); “Kindred Bodies” (Mr. C. T. Tassell—Mr. N. A. McNeill (E.F.C.A.); “The Press” (Mr. W. Roxburgh) ; “Musicians and Entertainers” (Mr. Sheard—Mr. J. Paterson). Responding to the toast of “The Association,” Mr. H. H. Brown said the standard of efficiency in the Department in New Zealand was higher than in Australia, and all over the country there was nothing but praise for line Department. By the wonderful service given by the staffs, the Post Office was paying New Zealanders handsomely, despite the fact that the cost of postage, telegrams and toll calls was the lowest in the world. The present Government had done a great deal for the service, first with a reclassification, which was urgently necessary. It took 20 years to get a salary of £335 in the Post Office, whereas that amount was secured in 12 years in the rest of the public service. They did not yet have uniformity and there was no justification for withholding it, unless it was considered they were less efficient than other public servants. He was certain the general public would say they were on a par with the rest of the public service. He explained the variations in the Post Office and Public Service Schedules, and said that they operated unfairly to the Post Office staffs. A Post Office worker was judged on his potential capabilities two grades ahead. The result was that in many cases other men tutored by them got ahead in the service. He hoped these matters would be rectified. The Department employees had not been as well treated as other branches of the Government service, in the past, but he felt that with the new DirectorGeneral they would get a fair reward for the faithful service they were giving the country. Items were contributed during the evening, by Miss F. Smith, Messrs. J. Prescott, P. Coll, and Bowman, with Mr. J. Paterson at the piano.