MR. COMBS AND THE MINISTER.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 18 April 1922, Page 5

MR. COMBS AND THE MINISTER.

(UY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. ) WELLINGTON, April 15. In the correspondence that passed be tween Mr. Combs (secretary of the f and T. Association) and the Hon. J. G Coates (i Jostniaster-General), the lattei said that every facility would be accorded members of the executive tc meet m Wellington, travelling and othei expenses being paid to members of the executive. Ine association is bein« communicated with by telegraph to-day asking whether, in the opinion of members, the executive should be called together to discuss the situation, or whether delegates representing the various sections should be summoned instead. A statement was published this mornlnS to the effect that the secretary of the P. and T^; Association has received a substantial number of resignations since the result of the ballot was announced, but that it appeared that very many officers who were not prepared to connect themselves with the Alliance of Labour were remaining members of the Association pending tne outcome of the Government's declaration against affiliation Regarding this. Mr. Combs stated that, before the ballot was taken at all a paragraph was inserted in the Katipo' the Association's paper, in reference to the question of resignations, ajid advising the membership that if the proposal for affiliation were carried quite a number of resignations might be expected. Members were asked to take that factor into consideration when recording their votes. il'ln view of this " remarked Mr. Combs, "we have been agreeably surprised over the resignations sent in. They have not nearly reached the tota^ that we anticipated would be the case." It is understood that, following the correspondence with the PostmasterGeneral, an early meeting of the executive of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association will be held at Wellington AUCKLAND, April 17. The P. and T. decision was discussed by the Orange Grand Lodge, and it was resolved that the Government be asked to insist, either by legislation or otherwise that »o civil service; association be allowed Jo seek affiliations outside the service, this rule to apply to employees in all departments.