P. & T. RE-UNION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 29 September 1927, Page 8

P. & T. RE-UNION

EMPLOYEES IN CARNIVAL MOOD MOST SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION. HOPES OF “CUT” RESTORATION. And the night shall be filled with music And the cares that infest the day Shall fold their tents like the Arabs. And as silently steal away. —Longfellow.

This undoubtedly was the spirit that was manifest at the annual reunion of the Hastings section of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association held in the Assembly Hall last evening. Well over 200 people took part in the most enjoyable and successful function- The supper tables occupied the greater portion of the hall and their bright decorations combined with the carnival caps and gaily-coloured dresses of the ladies, presented a gay scene. THE P. & T. DEPARTMENT. “The P. and T. Department’ ’ was the toast delegated to His Worship the Mayor (Mr G. A. Maddison) who stated that the Post Office and Telegraph Department was the most important and largest department oi the State and it was the service that was giving the greatest value to the people of the Dominion. He sincerely trusted that the Government would make a restoration of the “cut” which had taken place recently. In this respect Mr Maddison stated that he had frequently compared the salaries of public servants and had found that the postmasters sometimes received less than many headmasters of the public schools. This he considered unfair. He was pleased that work on making additions to the Hastings Post Wince had been commenced and when completed they would be the means of giving greater facilities to the public and postal officals. He took it as an indication of the wonderful growth of this portion of New Zealand and also as an indication of the increase in the Post Office figuresOn responding to the toast the Hastings Postmaster, Mr W. M. H. Diamond, expressed his pleasure at seeing such a large crowd present. He compared the rates ruling in 1867 with those prevailing at the present time and contended that they indicated what wonderful value the Department was rendering to the public. “On behalf of the rank and file I wish to say to Mr McKenzie that we look with great interest to his and the Association’s endeavours for the restoration of the ‘cut,’ ” stated Mr. W. S. Bennett, in proposing the toast “The P. and T. Employees’ Association.” The Association had the heartfelt appreciation of the work done by the Association and he sincerely trusted that their efforts would be rewarded in a fitting manner. Mr. Bennett made an appeal to all those who had not as yet become members of the Association to so so, as he considered that it was their duty not to let other people do the work for them.

A PROGRESSIVE BODY. ‘’The Association is as progressive to-day as it has been in the past,” assured Mr. J. H. McKenzie, secretary of the P. and T. Employees’ Association in replying to the toast. Every officer of the Department, he said, should see that it was given support and the practical way was io lend it moral assistance by becoming members. The Department-meas-ured up to the standard of that of other countries and it was for the Association to see that the rank and file were given decent treatment in the way of remuneration and that there were the prospective careers that the workers were entitled to. To a large extent the careers were not there for the number who had joined up. Mr. McKenzie considered that there was a stagnation in certain portions of the Department and here there were officers with the required examination and qualifications but no positions to take up. “I see in the statement made by the Minister of Railways to-day that he considers it advisable to set up a consultative board consisting of representatives pf the employees and the Railway Board,” stated Mr. McKenzie- “Singularly enough, this is one of the things that the P. and T. Association have been making efforts to accomplish but it has been received with opposition. I sincerely trust that such a board will be set up to consider all matters' bearing on P. and T. departmental matters. The Minister also referred to a uniformity committee to deal with all civil affairs.” Mr McKeuzie explained that there was such a committee in existence but its powers were very limited. To be successful it was essential that the committee be easier to approach than it had been in the past. There is something significant m the Hon. Minister’s statement and every one of you members should make all endeavours to regain representation on that committee for your Association,” declared Mr, McKenziePENNY POSTAGE QUESTIONABLE.

.‘‘lt may interest you to know that New Zealand is the oldest country to have universal penny postage,” stated Mr. McKenzie, “but as a worker I sometimes wonder if it is financially sound.” Continuing, the speaker painted out that considering present day values the penny postage was equivalent to |d pre-war times. The British Postmaster-General had mooted the idea 'of returning to the penny postage and he considered that the public could not stand the sacrifiye involved. “From a worker's viewpoint the adhering to the pennypostage is doubtful as we have lost the cost-of-living bonus which is paid to British and Australian employees,” stated Mr McKenzie. “The penny postage was re-introduced almost coincidently with the loss of the cost-of-living bonus and it is questionable whether it was not brought in at the cost of the workers. The average member of the community does not benefit and I and others are wondering whether the big commercial, institutions, which are derivii|g the greatest benefit, are not goining this at the cost of the P. and T. employees.” The speaker then went on to say that he thought the time had now arrived when the postal employees should be placed on a commercial status as there had been a substantial snrp'ns of f"” rl s fln-inq the |-i<

three years. He assured the gathering that the Association would continue to make every endeavour to have the “cut” restored. < Other toasts honoured were ''Th# Visitors (Mr H. Pringle— Messrs. HHounsel and A. O. Pike); ‘‘The Ladies” (Mr L. R. Bruce— Mr H. H. Harding). Several deightful musical items were rendered by the following:— Vocal duet. Messrs. E. E. Rivers and R. Horsefield; 'cello solo, Mr J. Maddock: banjo duet, Mias M. Burton and Mr W. P. Butler. Excellent orchestral selection! were renders by an orchestra consisting of members of the Hastings’ Orphans' Club. THE DANCERS. The dancing was quickly in full swing to the excellent music of MrP. Walden’s band, and with the lighting effects (managed by MrAllan', and the bright paper caps lending brightness even to the sombre attire of the men, presented F scene of changing colour and S a v movement. Mr s Maddison was wearing palest maize “Liberty” silk, with touches of floral silk as trimming. Mrs Sissons was handsomely attired in blue marocam, with a bronze flower at the shoulder. Mr a McCombe’s dress was of black satin charmeuse. with scarlet roses at the waist and shoulder. Miss Stack was in a model frock of black, with overdress of handembroixdered net in tones of grey with cerise flowers.

Miss Hickey chose black panne velvet, with a bright posy at the shoulder. Miss Cotter was attired in French crepe-de-chine. in petunia shade, hand tucked and embroidered. Miss Breen wore a lovely rose panne velvet with sequinned panels and heavy sequin shoulder clasp re rose tones. Miss Arnold’s frock was of georgette in Chinese red. with a beaded skirt, and new petal flowers on the shoulder. Miss Moriarty, pale maise crepe-de-chine with gathered bodice and full skirt finished with a deep silver lace hem. Mrs F. Kirkman, salmon oharmeuse with hand-worked floral hem. Miss Downes, sapphire panne velvet, with scarlet shoulder Hower. Miss Anderson, turquoise blue charmeuse, with inset panel of silver on the bodice to match the silver lace hem. Miss Hassett, pale pink satin, with ribbon Hower embroideries and '• ruched and embroidered skirt. Mrs. Murphy, salmon pink crepe-de-chine. with effective hand-embroider-ed sprays. Miss Wilson, charmingly pleated soft rose georgette with daintv beading. Miss Simmons, black georgette, with beading of black in a pretty design. Mrs Garth (P. 0.. Port Ahuriri). charming mauve crepe-de-chine, with bands of light heige lace. Mrs A. V. Harris (Napier), pink crepe-de-chine. in soft tones. with;a heavy-fringed drapery on the skirt, and flower at the hip. Mrs Norton, cyclamen crepe-de-chine, beads drichly to tone, and -• bead posy. Mrs Watkins, palest apple green georgette, with an overdress of gold embossed lace in novel design. Mrs Charles, dove grey crepe-de-chine, with floral embossed hem of blue and gold, and shawl to tone with. rose, gold and bine flowers. Mrs A. Curtis, scarlet erepe-de-chine, with long lines of embroidered nattier blue. Mrs Meek (Napier), rich emerald green satin, with soft flared skirt and draneries. Mrs Proctor (Napier), handsome rust georgette, embossed with a design in ehenille relief of blues and reds. Miss M. Wall, black taffetas, with large pink embroidered flowers' on the skirt to match a pink shoulder flower. Miss Vance dainty oink danpa dress, veiled in heavy gold lace and tissue. Mrs Hewitson. aearlet georgette with a sequin and gold-beaded, overllress. Miss Rosa Donovan, black crepe-de-chine with sequin irredescent trimmings, and primrose fringed shawl. Miss M. Richards, palest mauve taffetas with full skirt of mauve net over taffetas. Miss Aldridge was in scarlet chiffon velvet, prettily made, and relieved with silver fur wran Miss Edge wore black panne, with gold metal embroideries. Mrs Crawford's frock was of floral ninon, in pastel tones of pink and mauve, Mrs McCord, mauve panne velvet with a shoulder flower of the same tones. Miss Pemberton's dainty frock was of floral georgette in apple green tints, with ecru lace panel. Mrs Gilmour’s dress was of palest blue satin, with panel and hem of oxidised silver. Miss Wiffin (Dannevirke) was af.' tired in sapphire crepe-de-chine, with effective bands of rust On the bodice and skirt hem Miss Griffiths, chsrming frock et pink crope-de-ehine. Miss Summersby paste] pink eharmeiise, prettily made. Miss R Morley (Waipawa), black crepe de-chine, with a bright mauve shawl. Miss G. Morley (Waipawa), smart lv cut frock of black penne velvet, Miss R, Inglis, green georgette dress with trimmings of gold lace. Miss M, Shears (Waipukurau). mauve taffetas, with a handsome Spanish shawl. Miss E. Daw (Waipawa), red georgette daintilv made, and worn with a pretty shawl.