P. AND T. OFFICERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18946, 21 August 1923, Page 7

P. AND T. OFFICERS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. (Pee Unite# Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 20. The Post and Telegiryh Conference passed the following- resolutions of general importance to-day: “That no reclassification of the service will be satisfactory which does not bring the spending power of the salaries allotted up to the 1914 level based on the ‘all groups’ cost of living, calculations of the Arbitration Court. _ / Ike salary scale ‘ for the clerical division should provide for a five-year training period, and thereafter all officers qualified by examination and efficient service should proceed to the maximum of Class 7 by two further increments. In the opinion of the conference Regulation 8 is being used for the purpose of defeating the right of appeal as established by the amending Act of 1918 and its amendments, and thji conference therefore asks that the regulation be revoked. All male officers should be guaranteed a minimum wage of £234 per annum on reaching the age of 21 years, further progress to the maximum of the class to follow when by length of service a higher salary should become due. In the opinion of _ the conference anything bordering on bureaucratic or “star chamber” methods of dealing with working conditions is wrong in principle and practice. The Uniformity Committee, which is now operating in the service, is bureaucratic, and decides questions of great moment to public servants without giving them an opportunity of representing their side pf the question dealt with. Therefore this conferences asks for elected public service representation thereon. That the Government be urged to grant all public servants full political and civil rights. ' In order to relieve the existing stagnation in regard to the promotion of qualified long-service officers in the rank and file, and thus remove the grounds for considerable unrest, the department be requested to retire forthwith all officers of 40 years’ service.

In all events of emergency the Executive Committee is authorised to use its discretion in approaching members of Parliament either individually or collectively, so as to safeguard the rights or advance the claims of members. In all cases where a definite Stand is imperative and . time per mils authority to take the prescribed course shall bo obtained by postal ballot. In the event of time not permitting of this course boiinr taken, the members of the Executive Council shall be consulted.