“HIGH HOPES DASHED”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 812, 5 November 1929, Page 11

“HIGH HOPES DASHED”

P. AND T. MEN DISAPPOINTED WITH UNITEDS “SACRIFICED ON ALTAR” Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. A statement was made to a pressman by officials of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association in regard to the members’ dissatisfaction and disappointment a-t the decision of the House to withhold any salary increases. The statement is as follows: — “From the debate which took place it was made quite clear the members generally were of the opinion that improvements in salary were due to lower-paid officers. Despite the assurances given in this direction both inside and outside the House the claims of those men, which are unassailable, have evidently been sacrificed on the altar of party politics and political expediency.” It was clear that members of the public service would never be in the position of receiving a wage commensurate with the value of their services given while conditions such as these prevailed. As far as members of the Post and Telegraph Department were concerned, they were prepared to have the merits of their case adjudicated upon on an arbitration basis. It was impossible, at present, to give any indication of what action would be taken till the question had been fully discussed at section meetings. One fact had definitely emerged, that the high hopes held by the servants when *the United Party came into office of receiving some measure of justice after seven years’ fruitless representations had been absolutely dashed.