STATEMENT RESENTED

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11934, 15 September 1924, Page 6

STATEMENT RESENTED

“NOT DISLOYALISTS" PROTEST FROM AUCKLAND P. AND T. OFFICIALS. SUBSTANTIATION CHALLENGED. AUCKLAND, September 12. The statements made by the Post-master-General, the Hon. J. G. Coates, regarding “disloyalists” in the Post arid Telegraph service’ were discussed at a special meeting of the Auckland sec’tion of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ - Association. “SLIGHTING REMARKS.” A resolution was unanimously passedto the effect that “the branch views, (Wifli marked regret and extreme disfavour, the' use T by the PostmafsterGdneral, in his report, of the expressions ‘disloyalists’ arid ‘malcontents.’ It is felt that these words have been applied to prominent members of the orriariisation, who, with the approval of the service, have strenuously resisted the unjust salary cuts', wlthdraVal of .privileges, and hardening of the service Thiri branch reaffirms : fts confidence in Hie. executive of the association, and challenges anyone' to Substantiate of disloyalty to the department, or wilful friefficfency in 1 the, service. “As regards’ th'e . PoftmaSter-G4rie-r ifaTs slighting riSriiirks riSSpaotfrig 66ritrOf by the workers,” the rSsblufiori coritinues, “the legfslafion in England [providing for representation of {SS workers on railway directorates and for Wlntley councils in the Civil Service, is Sufficient probf that under a progressive! government such aspiraiiOris are riot regarded as fantastic. To-day, iri New Zealand, the P. arid T. officers areref Used even A tribunal to’ inqnfre into thfeir conditions-.” BETTER SALARIES. Respecting the! demand for better Salary conditions’, the following resolufiori was also - passed unanimously, and telegraphed to all meinberg of Parlrainent for AncHtfri'd district: “Front riaist experiemte' it had becoriab evident’ that any teduction iri drrect taxation Jk in Ao way passed on ..to . the. masses generally, and while affirming the principle that all salaries should be restored to the 1914 level, we demand that no further reduction in taxation take place Until the salary cuts have been restored. The present rriaiita'mrifi represent only a 29 pep. cCnt. increase on-, the 1914 scale, while the restoration of the cuts would bring such salaries up to 39 per cent, above lifli, or 30 per cerit below present cost of living figurte.” *