POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16268, 29 June 1916, Page 9

POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES

RAILWAYMEN'S PETITION.

TRADESMEN'S ASSOCIATION.

[BY TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Wednesday. An expensive petition, praying for official recognition of the Railway Tradesmen's Association, was presented to-day. Petitioners represent that they are members of the subsidiary trades of the Railway Service, and for" years have been endeavouring to work through the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, but the policy of that society on the skilled labour of the tradesman is in conflict with their interests. Hence a special association has been formed.

INCREASED TELEGRAPHIC RATES.

The annual report of the Post and Telegraph Department states that the war has not. seriously affected the business of the Department, although necessarily it lias added largely to the cost of administration. The war has seriously hindered the introduction of automatic telephone exchange?. The total revenue for the Department was £1,695,757, an increase of £336,697 over the preceding year. The record of enlistments from the Department was 1013 out of a. staff of 7198 permanent and temporary officers. The increased telegraph charges produced a diminution in the number of telegrams, but the extra revenue won was £24,180, and " urgents," although fewer, produced £155 more revenue. The "press" telegrams fell from 471,455 to 583,055, but the revenue for the last half o'f the year was £24,417, as against £22,328 in the preceding term. Free Government messages increased as usual, and amounted to 127.841, a value of £9085 at ordinary rates.