POSTAL ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20623, 23 July 1930, Page 14

POSTAL ASSOCIATION.

A SPLIT THREATENED.

SENIOR OFFICERS* PROPOSAL.

SEPARATE GUILD DESIRED. A movement lias been started in Wellington by ft group of officers of tlio Tost and Telegraph Department to separate from the Tost and Tolegrapli Officers' Association aud form a "guild" for executive officers receiving £320 a year and over. Hitherto the association has embraced all ranks in tho service, from telegraphists, clerks and letter-car-riers to executive officers with salaries of £OOO or £7OO a year. It has long been recognised by tho department and tho Government as tho official mouthpiece of all tho employees. Of lato tho association has used most of its efforts to improve tho position of tho rank and file, including postmen and letter-sorters receiving under £250 a year. As a result these men aro now able to reach tho maximum wage for their divisions at an earlier age than formerly and are virtually on an equality' with railway employees of similar grade. Reason lor Present Action.

Before this action was taken thero was some dissatisfaction among tho lowerpaid men aud a suggestion was made by somo of them that a separate organisation should bo formed. However, such a courso proved to be unnecessary. ]t is now believed that certain of tho executive officers consider the association has not been activo enough in trying to raise tho salary-level of its higher-paid members. Comparisons wero mado in tho press somo time ago between tho salaries of chief postmasters, telegraph engineers and superintendents of special branches and those received by responsible officers of other Stato departments. Tho analysis showed tho postal officers to be paid considerably less than tho others.

It is stated that tho first meeting to discuss (ho schemo was held at Wellington on July 11 and that a provisional committee was set up, with Mr. J. M. McLean, chief postmaster, as chairman, and tho following personnel:—Messrs. li. B. Reynolds, E. W. Rudman and F. 11. Guinness (postal branches); E. H. R. Green and E. 11. Lawn (telegraph engineers) ; F. Milton (stores); 11. A. Lamb (accountants); 11. Miller and R. L. Townsend (telegraph) ; and S. A. Olgivio (head office). Auckland Official's Comment. Tho proceedings were private and a request by Mr. J. 11. McKenzie, general secretary of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association, for admission to a sec- j ond meeting two days later was not 1 granted. j

An official of the association's -Auckland branch stated yesterday that it was believed that the departmental heads viewed the movement with favour, preferring to deal with two bodies instead of one. The position would bo discussed by a meeting of the Dominion executive at Wellington on August 5. The formation of a senior officers' organisation has a precedent in the Railway Officers Institute. The railway service, in fact, is organised in a number of different bodies, including the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, the Engineers, Firemen and Cleaners' Association, and the Railway Tradesmen's Association.