P. AND T. OFFICERS' DISPUTE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14706, 5 June 1920, Page 4

P. AND T. OFFICERS' DISPUTE.

{Per Press Association.) j AUCKLAND.-June 4. The unrest in the P. and T. Depart- : ment was the subject of some remarks ! bv the Postmaster-General. He said that the official claims would be dealt * with as soon as consideration of the railwaymen's case had been concluded. Re- , fcrring more particularly to the demand j by members of the P. and T. service who went to the war as active combatants. to be placed on an et|ual footing with others who joined the Postal and riifinallins Corps., and in conse'j;ic nee received half civilian pay. the Minister said he sympathised with those who had not received half pay. It was a very uiifnir thin;: to make this difference. and obviously the jirant of half pay to one section of the service and not to the other should not have been made. It had been done, and there was an end of it. "So far as I am concerned.'" said Mr Coates. "I would be pleased if I could place all the men on an equal footing, but the Government has considered the matter on several occasions, and the position is that wt- cannot make the concession. Personally 1 would certainly like to see those men who fought in the ranks half civil pay. because I think ihey it more than the men who went away with the Postal Corp*—that is. having regard to the difference in their duties. I say this as a matter of principle. -not that 1 atrree with tile y ranting of civil pay in the first instance."