POSTAL SERVICE

Southland Times, Issue 19223, 19 April 1924, Page 5

POSTAL SERVICE

SCHEDULES RECEIVED. J ACTION BY THE ASSOCIATION NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE MINISTER. (Per United Press Association). WELLINGTON, April 18. The President of the P. and T. Officer/ Association annouheed this afternoon that his Executive had received the salary schedules, considered them and were now taking steps to open up negotiations with the Minister. NAPIER SUPPORTS EXECUTIVE. BUT AGAINST STRIKE. NAPIER, April 17. At a meeting of the Napier branch of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Officer/ Association last night it was decided that the Executive be supported in any actios it might take regarding the question of the salaries schedules. The tone of the meeting, however, appeared to be distinctly antagonistic to any suggestion of a strike at the present juncture. IF STRIKE COMES. WEST COAST FEARS ISOLATION. GREYMOUTH, April 17. Should a strike eventuate, and the Poe» tai as well as the Railway Service cease, the majority of the smaller West Coaet communities will be isolated. The A.S.R.S. ballot papers went forward this morning. The members strongly favour a strike. The E.F.C.A. attitude is yet uncertain, but the R. 0.1. has definitely taken the stand that it will support the decision of headquarters of the Institute. The P. and T. have passed the following resolution: “This Association demand! that unless the schedules be made available in two days a conference be called.” A strike will mean the cessation of worM on the wharf as well as on the railway. THE P. AND T. CASE. CIRCULAR TO BUSINESS MEN. A number of business men in Southland have received through the post a circulai from the New Zealand Post and Telegaph Officers' Association detailing the Association’s grievances. The circular makes a strong point of the fact that “first-class telegraphiflta are paid less than third-class carpenters.” The carpenter, it is stated, can command 2/9, 3/and 3/3 per hour, according to his skill and experience, which is equal, on a 44-houf week, to £6 10/-, £612/- and £7 3/- respectively. In annual terms it is equal to £315, £343 and £372. The first-class telegraphist of twenty years’ service can command only £295, out of which he has to contribute £l5 to the Superannuation Fund. The Association states that a telegraphist requires a higher education and a “closer discipline* than is ths case with a carpenter. It ia further stressed that a cadet has to put in from two to three years’ experience as a telegraph messenger and then Ixigin on a small salary. He is then practically at th# point of a man’s estate, and yet years off the day when he can receive the basic wag# of £3 16/1 as laid down by the Arbitration Court. To reach the basic minimum took ten years, and the officer is 24 years of ag# before he receives that amount. Another matter emphasised is that during the past twelve months over 500 people left the employ of the Department. “Some of them have stated,” according to the circular, “that they were ashamed to tell their mates the wages they were working for.”