P. AND T. OFFICERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18020, 20 February 1922, Page 8

P. AND T. OFFICERS.

AIMS OF THE ASSOCIATION.

THE ALLIANCE OF LABOUR,

AFFILIATION DISCUSSED.

The proposal that the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association should affiliate with the Alliance of Labour was explained to a meeting of the Auckland section, held in St, James' Hall on Saturday evening. The speakers were Mr. J. H, M,cKenzie, Dominion president, and Mr. H. E. Combs, general secretary of the organisation. Mr, H, W. Pavwll, president ofi the Auckland section of the association, ( presided over a gathering of well over 100 members. It was explained at the outset by both speakers that the object of the gathering was to give full information, so that when the ballot to determine the question was held members might be properly acquainted with the issues, Mr. McKenzio recalled that _in 1913, when tho opposition to commissioner control was being voiced, they had . strong support from the then Parliamentary Opposition, led by Sir Joseph Ward, who himself had been in the service. The same could not be said at the present time, when it was necessary to battle for support from any politician or set of politicians. After referring to the genesis of the movement to link up with other public organisations, Mr. McKenzie said it was felt by many that the ballot taken on that issue was sufficient mandate fur the joining with tho allianco. He personally did not think so, for he felt that members generally had not sufficient information on the matter. This was parti, cularly so at the present time, when the cut in salaries was to the fore, and when there mightf be a desire to use the alliance merely as a weapon to hit back with. The matter should do examined from all aspects, and then voted upon coldly. Were he a private member of the association he would be inclined to be whole-heartedly for it. But if they joined up they must do so as for all time, and not merely to meet the immediate situation. Strike Organisation Denied. Tho first view of tho alliance tended to bo that it was an organisation for calling strikes. Yet it had to be rememberod that since the waterside workers

had joined up there had not been a single ' strike on the waterfront. Everyone know ' how frequently they used to be. It ap- ' peared as though the waterside workers wero finding they were getting their conditions improved without striking. Had it oeon a matter of dealing between officers and department, the old organisation might have dono for all time, he continued. But it was undoubtedly a fact that outside pressure was being brought to bear, through the Government, to reduce salaries. Cost of living figures had not been produced to justify the cut which had been made. It was to be part of a general scheme of reduction throughout the country. The amendments to the Arbitration Act had been made with that object. Unless the members of the association believed that the same considerations affected them as the other workers, they were not in the frame of mind {or affiliation. If, however, they were of the opinion that tho same considerations governed them as other workers, they were in the right state of mind to join up with the alliance. Gap In Organisation. Mr. Combs said that while their present organisation was a good one, there >vas a gap between what it was able to do ancj what is should be abl 6 to do, if it was truly representative of the rights of tho service. The proposal with regard to the alliance *was a scheme which it was hoped would bridge that gap. If anyone could evolve a better method of bridging that §ap, the executive would bo glad to consider it. Much had been said lately about tho fortunate position of the public servant. The fact was that the average wage over tho whole service was something liko 12s a day. He was told recently in the North that in the gumfields a man could make up to 25s a day. How did this compare with the educated public servant, who had to undergo medical examination and observe rules and regulations by the thousand ? They received their 12s a day, and thero was a proposal to reduce it to 9s. It was already reduced to somewhere about lis a day. Ho predicted that when the demand for labour increased, as it was hoped it would soon, there would bo very many leaving the service, and taking something where a substantial return for the work done was assured. Strength In Negotiations. Dotailing the dispute with the Post-master-General to obtain recognition as an association, Mr. Combs said the organisation was then strong enough to win a fight that did not involve the expenditure of any of the public money. But there was a far greater struggle ahead against this proposal to reduce salaries to the vanishing point. It was with this idea that the proposal for affiliation with the Alliance of Laboua' came. It was an organisation with which any self-respecting body might affiliate, and it offered the means of dealing with disputes. Joining it would involve obligations as well as benefits. It might be that in some time of national trouble, when the service was heart and whole with those who were fighting, the alliance might order the officers to remain at work. And they would then have to remain, whatever their feelings. But if there was any question of readjustment after such an upheaval, the interests of the service would be considered, because the association would have representation on the council. Mr. Combs also disputed the assertion that the alliance was a strike-making organisation. He aJso assured his hoarers that that body was not a political organisation. Many of the bodies in it supported the Political Labour Party, but there were some which did not. As the alliance expanded, it would include all shades of political opinion. Its objects were entirely industrial.

A considerable number of questions were aeked and answered. It was explained that to carry a decision to affiliate a two-thirds majority of members would be necessary. The numerical strength of the P. and T. Association would give it three representatives on the council of the alliance,

The meeting, being purely for the purposes of discussion prior to a ballot, the only ■ resolution carried was one of thanks to the speakers, which was carried enthusiastically.