P. AND T. SERVICE PAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18694, 28 April 1924, Page 9

P. AND T. SERVICE PAY.

'ASSOCIATION'S CLAIMS. COST OF £454,227 A YEAR. CABINET DEFERS MATTER. TEEING STRIKE SETTLEMENT. pIT TEUEGR.U'H.— CORRESPONDENT.} WELLINGTON. Sunday.' Delegates from the Post and Telegraph Cheers' Association met tho PostmasterGeneral, Ron. J. G. Coates, this afternoon in regard to the new classification list. Mr. Coatea read a statement reviewing the department's proposals and the association's claims. In the course of it he said that tho demands of the association involved an additional expenditure of £454,227 for the current year. Mr. Coatcs added that in the new schedule the increases granted represented a rise of 59 per cent, on the wages scale of 1914. The proposals of the association would mean an increase of 90 per cent, on the 1914 figures. The whole question, said Mr. Coates, had been placed before the Cabinet, which had decided that it was not preened to give further consideration to he Post, and Telegraph Association's requests until tho present, difficulty m ..connection with the railway men is out of the way. Mr. H. E. Combs, secretary of the association, said that this meant tfcat 'he requests of his association wero -Tapped up in the railway -matter. The Minister said that his answer only meant that the Cabinet had decided that i must have tie strike off its hands .-fore it could deal further with the post and telegraph officials' requests. Mr. Combs: In effect the Cabinet freaks off negotiations with us? Mr. Coates: Not at all. You have the statement I have just read to consider, ir>d personally I am quite prepared to continue negotiations. Mr. Combs: The Cabinet is telling us to go about our business until the railway dispute is settled. Mr. Coates : You may make what ■'eductions you like. I am not telling you to go about your business. A member of the delegation remarked quietly, "That will do," and the conference ended.