POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3555, 2 May 1922, Page 20

POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

PROPOSAL BY MR VEITCH

WANGANUI, April 22. Mr Veiteh, M.P., suggests the following as the basis of settlement to be presented to the Government by the conference of the P. and T. Association called to discuss the situation: — First, that the association will abandon the proposed affiliation with the Alliance of Labour; secondly, that the Government will set up a tribunal, if possible a permanent one, to investigate salaries, working conditions, and the causes of- unrest in the service, with special reference to the- effect of retrenchment; thirdly, that the Government wall postpone the second and third cuts under the Public Service Adjustment Act until the tribunal makes its report, and until the executive has been consulted; fourthly, that the order of reference for the tribunal be drafted by the Government in conference with the executive of the association.

OFFICERS CONFER WITH MINISTER WELLINGTON, April 23.

No announcement is yet available regarding the decision of the executive* of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association in reference to the Government’s refusal to allow the association to affiliate with the Alliance of,.Labour. The executive is still in session, but Mr IT. E. Combs, secretary of the association, in company with the president (Mr MacKenzie), has left for Hamilton to meet the Postmaster-general (the Hon. J. G. Coates). On their return the conference will resume. It is stated that the meeting at Hamilton is at the request of the Minister. CONFERENCE AT HAMILTON. HAMILTON, April 24. Mr J. H. M'Kenzie '(president). Mr H. E. Combs (secretary), and Mr 11. H. Brown (vice-president), and Mr M‘Donald (member on the executive), of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association, visited Hamilton yesterday for the purpose of discussing the Post and Telegraph situation with the Postmaster-General. The press was not admitted, but at the conclusion of conference it was announced that there was nothing to report, other than that the executive of the association would .be called together within the next 10 days to discuss the situation. THE ALLIANCE QUESTION. WELLINGTON, April 26. It is stated that the whole question of the Post and Telegraph and the Government threat to veto the decision to link up with the Alliance of Labour has been referred to a general meeting of delegates of all branches, to meet in Wellington on May 9. GOVERNMENT URGED TO STAND FIRM. FEILDING, April 26. The Chamber of Commerce on Monday night passed a resolution : urging the G.o----1 vernment to stand firm on the post, and telegraph question. THE GOVERNMENT SJTPPORTED CHRISTCHURCH. April 26. The North Canterbury branch of the Farmers’ Union passed the following resolution:—“That this executive recognises the great difficulties the Government has to icontend with in the various departments of the public service in attempting to make its expenditure come within the limits of its income. It also recognises the imminence of the national disaster in the affiliation of the Post and Telegraph Association with the Alliance of Labour. The Alliance of Labour is a political organisation seeking to use industrialism as a vehicle t-o reach its goal. In this method this executive sees a blow to democracy and the ultimate destruction of the liberties that have come down to the people .through' the centuries. It commends the Government in its opposition to the proposed affiliation, and pledges the support of this executive and urges the farming community to stand solidly against any such affiliation.”