POSTAL SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22887, 16 November 1937, Page 12

POSTAL SERVICE

PLANS FOR DEGRADING MINISTER GIVES ASSURANCE A DEPUTATION TO BE HEARD [Bl* TELEGRAPH' —OWN' CORRESPONDENT] WAIHI, Monday Reference to the Go vein input's plans for the regrading of employees of the Post and Telegraph Department was made by Mr. J. Thorn, M.P. for Thames, when speaking at the annual reunion of the Thames section of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Employees' Association on Saturday evening. Mr. E. H. Patton, supervisor at Waihi, presided! Mr. Thorn said the report on regrading' had been before Cabinet and had been referred back to those who had prepared it for a statement as to cost. The Postmaster-General, the Hon. F. Jones, had given his assurance thatCabinet would not make a decision until the representatives of the association had been given an opportunity to make representations in the matter. All increases would be back-dated to April 1 last. He also had the assurance that all the poorer paid sections of the service would be sympathetically considered.

In proposing the toast of the Post and Telegraph Department, the Mayor of Waihi, Mr. W. M. Wallnutt, said it was without doubt the most important department of the Government. The revenue exceeded £3,750,000 last year, and Post Ofßce Savings Bank deposits had increased by £5,000,000; nearly 3000 now accounts being opened. Telephone connections for last year were the largest yet recorded, and there was a steady increase in every branch of tho department. The chief postmaster at Thames, Mr. T. Y. Cameron, who replied to the toast, said that the Post and Telegraph Department had done much work for other Government departments. Delay in respect to the reclassification of the service was referred to by Mr. S. Mather, section secretary, Auckland, and delegate to the conference. Their association, he said, had not been able to ascertain from the Government what the basis of the reclassification was to be, despite the.fact that legislation was passed 12 months ago. This continued delay was causing unrest in the service, and this was quite understandable when it was appreciated that a proper investigation into service salaries and conditions had not been made since 1919.

.Mr. Mather appealed to the Government to take the association more into its confidence with a view to having the reclassification question settled at an earlv date.

The Hon. E. Dye, M.L.C., replied to the toast of "Parliament" as proposed by Mr. M. V. Boles, and other toasts were also honoured.