BIENNIAL CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23351, 17 November 1937, Page 9

BIENNIAL CONFERENCE

POST AND TELEGRAPH EMPLOYEES DELEGATES MEET IN WELLINGTON (Per United Press association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 16. "The biennial conference of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Employees' Association was officially opened by the Minister of Mines (Mr P. C. Webb) at Wellington this morning. Mr G McNamara, director-general of the department, also attended. The conference was presided over by Mr H. W Parnell. Auckland, and there are 28 delegates from al] parts of the Dominion. Mr Webb said he was not in a posi+ion to give the conference any information with regard to reclassification in the public service. The Government had been giving the matter attention for some time, and he understood that a statement would be made shortly He realised that members of the post and telegraph service had not always had a square deal with regard to salaries, but notwithstanding no department in the Dominion was better organised or more efficient He had recently had an opnortunity of making a comparison between the Australian and New Zealand services, and was satisfied that the New Zealand standard of service was not excelled anvwhere. Mr Webb complimented members of the service on their loyal co-orjeration with the Government in carrying out the duties associatpd with the department, and paid a high tribute to their business ability Mr McNamara sdd he was pleased that Mr Webb had said that the Post and Telegraph Department was a most efficient State service This he thought a confirmation of public opinion The Minister had said the New Zealand service was better than the Australian, and he could say frnm personal observations that it was not inferior to similar services in other countries Notwithstanding its genera] efficiency and the fact that it was a complicated service consisting of 15 departments, its officers were the noorest paid in the employ of the State He had repeatedly protested to previous Governments in this connection, but had been unable to obtain satisfaction, but he hoped the Government would now give authority to pay salaries in accordance with the value of work performed. The business handled by the department was increasing rapidly. Last year there was a 15 per cent increase, and this year an additional 14 per cent This abnormal increase was severely taxing the resources of the department. Thp deoartment's revenue this yeai -"Piild probably amount to £4 000000 This would be a record The conference will be continued to-morrow