POSTAL SERVICE

Southland Times, Issue 18809, 30 April 1920, Page 6

POSTAL SERVICE

• MEETING AT WELLINGTON. DRASTIC ACTION DEFERRED. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 29. At a meeting of members of the Post and Telegraph Association a motion was proposed that, failing recognition of the Association through the executive, a ballotshould be organised and if necessary the executive should be called on to take extreme action. It was asserted that members had to work at night and get their wives to take in rewing in order to support their families. Some speakers thought the proposal too drastic. An amendment was carried demanding an interview within seven days regarding increases, failing this that monster meetings of all branches be held on Sunday, May 9, to decide what action to take. The executive was requested to call a conference with a view to properly organising the Association to meet emergencies. The secretary said that a message had been received from Mr Massey which was interpreted to mean that the bonus alleged to have been promised by Sir Joseph Ward was not to be paid. The meeting resolved on insisting on a straightout reply within three days and if the answer was in the negative the meeting pledges itself to stand by any action the executive may think fit.

WANGANUI RESOLUTIONS. WANGANUI, April 29. A meeting of over 100 members of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association paped a resolution sympathising with the railwayman, and offering financial assistance. It also decided that a conference be called on their Association’s own matters, and that the executive be supported in any action they see fit to take. OPINION AT CHRISTCHURCH. STRIKE IDEA SCOUTED. CHRISTCHURCH, April 29. As far as the Christchurch branch of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association is concerned, inquiries made amongst officials to-day go to show that at this stage the idea of ceasing work is not seriously considered. “We would be a very cold-footed crowd if the executive called us out, and I very much doubt if there would be a general response,” was how one man put it. VIGOROUS RESOLUTIONS FROM OAMARU. OAMARU, April 29. At a record and enthusiastic meeting of the Oamaru branch of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association held on Wednesday evening, the following resolutions were unanimously carried :—“That this section enters an emphatic protest against the methods employed by the Prime Minister and the Postmaster-General in avoiding the promised meeting with our executive, thereby driving us from legitimate means of redress. We further voice our disgust at the manner in which Sir Joseph Ward’s promised bonus has been flouted, and now place further action with the executive and pledge support of whatever action they decide to take.”

‘That this section desires to place on record its sympathy with the railwayman in their struggle for a living wage.” “That this section wishes to place on record the action of the Postmaster-General in ignoring correspondence from the secretary of the Past and Telegraph Officers’ Association as published in the Katipo, re the interview, which compares unfavourably with the uniform courtesy received from previous Postmasters-General.”

“That this section is of opinion that the amount of the bonus being paid to lower grade officers is totally inadequate to meet the increased cost of living, and that the action of the Government in allocating the amount of bonuses to officers drawing £SOO the same as to officers drawing half that amount or less, shows the Government’s lack of sympathy with the lower paid workers of the service.”

THE WAIRARAPA SECTION

MASTERTON, April 29. At an extraordinary meeting of the Wairarapa branch of the P. <fe T. Officers’ Association to-night resolutions were passed urging the executive to secure an interview with the Prime Minister and Postmaster-General and seek to establish the claims of the service to a living wage, “that failure or postponement of the interview be regarded as hostile to the service and be acted upon as such after forty-eight hours; that the executive be instructed to again demand payment of the promised war bonus. The Wairarapa section whole-heartedly supports the railway service in its fight and th&t while members are willing to perform their duty as public servants they will take no action to defeat raiiwaymen in their just fight.” VIEWS IN INVERCARGILL. Last night a Southland Times representative, making inquiries as to the attitude of the Invercargill section of the P. and T. Officers’ Association, was informed that the resolutions adopted at Masterton exactly reflected the views of the men in Invercargill. No information regarding the Association’s Conference in Wellington last night had reached the local branch.