P. AND T. OFFICERS

Southland Times, Issue 19511, 10 May 1922, Page 5

P. AND T. OFFICERS

CLOSE OF THE CONFERENCE. AFFILIATION WITH THE ALLIANCE POSTPONED. PARLIAMENT TO BE PETITIONED. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 9. The long drawn but conference of representatives of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association came to a conclusion in Wellington ix>-day. At about 4.30 in the afternoon the delegates proceeded to Parliament Buildings and met the PostmasterGeneral (the Hon. J. G. Coates). This meeting was not open to the press, but afterwards Mr Coates made the following statement; “During the past week delegates of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association have been in conference in Wellington to discuss the Government’s intimation that affiliation with the Alliance of Labour would not be permitted. Late this afternoon the whole of the delegates met the Postmaster-General and informed him that it had been decided to postpone affiliation for the present.” Mr Coates declined to comment on the decision of the men’s representatives. Mr H. E. Combs, secretary of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association, informed a reporter this evening that the conference concluded after passing the following resolution: “Having had confirmed by the Postmaster-General the advice given by three independent legal authorities showing that the Alliance of Labour is a lawful combination, this conference of delegates cannot assume power to surrender the lawful rights of its membership to combine with other workers for lawful purposes. Further, having been told by the Postmaster General that the Government’s embargo on affiliation being carried out is a question of policy and does not in any way challenge the legality of affiliation, the officers of the Association are directed to arrange for the presentation of a petition to Parliament praying for the withdrawal of the Government’s embargo on the ground that it is not right to intimidate a section of citizens to surrender a measure of their free and lawful rights under threat of victimisation.”