RECOGNITION RESTORED

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 2 August 1933, Page 6

RECOGNITION RESTORED

POSTAL EMPLOYEES’ ASSN. AGREEMENT WITH MINISTER. POLITICAL ACTIVITY BANNED. LOSS OF SOME CONCESSIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 1. An announcement that differences of opinion existing between the Government and the Pos: and Telegraph Employees’ Association since May last year have been settled was made tonight by the Postmaster-General (the Hon. Adam Hamilton). Official recognition has been restored to the association, which lias agreed to keep its organisation non-political in future. Mr Hamilton explained that a final conference was held to-day between senior officers of the association, himself and the secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department (Mr G. McNamara). An agreement had been reached as a result of which members of the association would be on a footing similar to that of members of the public service generally. That involved keeping clear of politics. Under the agreement the association has not regained all the concessions it enjoyed prior to the cancellation on May 17, 1932. The Post and Telegraph Department has agreed to grant the association the right to represent to tlie lie-acl of fh.e depart.ment any matters concerning conditions of employment, and if the association be not satisfied with the decision of the departmental head it shall have the right to place its cases before the Minister.

The department also agreed to permit the exhibition in offices of all notices of meetings of conferences, these notices to be confined to a bare statement of the place, time and object of the meeting and not to bear any slogan or any other ‘ statement. Distribution of the “Katipo” (the association’s journal) in the Post and Telegraph Department’s premises has been permitted again.

In consideration of these and several other concessions the association has agreed that its organisation shall be non-political and tnat employees of the association in their official capacity must not take any active part in political affairs other than by recording their votes at elections. The association has given an undertaking to refrain from publication in newspapers of “misleading or exaggerated statements” of service conditions. It has. agreed to edit all correspondence in the Katipo so that the publication of unfair criticism of an officer will be avoided.