P. & T. SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1924, Page 4

P. & T. SERVICE.

HIGHER SALARIES DEMANDED STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. ANSWER TO AGITATION. By Telegraph.—-Press Association. Wellington, Sept. 27. Publicity has been given locally to a circular which has been sent to junior officers of the Post and Telegraph Department by the secretary of the Poet and Telegraph Officers’ Association urging them to induce members of Parliament to raise an agitation over the salaries paid to the younger men in the department, and to-day the PostmasterGeneral (Hon. J. G. Coates) made th* following statement regarding the matter: — “The public will no doubt recollect that extravagant salary demands were made by the Poet and Telegraph Officers’ Association a few months Ago. If these demands had been granted the additional cost for the currant financial year would have been £4'5'0,000, and at a. result of receiving that amount officers of the Post and Telegraph Department would have been in the happy position of being in receipt of larger satariefi than those paid outside the service for work of equal importance. The Increases granted in accordance with the new salary scales adopted will amount to over £lOO,OOO for this year, and under those scales the majority of officers, particularly those of the rank and file,’ ar? just as well paid an person* engaged in other comparable work. “MAJORITY SATISFIED.” “An inquiry which was recently made throughout the service shows that the large majority of officers are reasonably satisfied with what has been done for them this year. Mr. Combs (secretary of the association), however, would have officers beliqre that he is disappointed, at the salaries allotted this year, «o that he may not stand alone in hia disappointment he addressed a circular letter to the juniors who are members of his organisation, wherein he stat**? ’The Government proposes to reduce land, and income taxes by £BOO,OOO this year—a gift to the wealthy—while It denies you decent living.’ He outlines a letter of protest which he suggests should be sent to members of Parliament.

“In reference to the statement 'although I am a man in years I am only drawing a boy’s wage,’ which Mr. Cotnbs i asked the various juniors to make, it might be explained that when he discussed the salary question with me he gave it as his opniion that every young man of 21 years of age should be paid at least £4 10s a week, quite independently of what work he was engaged on or whether .he was married or unmarried. Mr. Combs knew as well as ( T do that except in one or two isolated rases such payment is not made anywhere in the Dominion. It should bo remembered that he regards any salary or wage under £4 10s as a boy’s pay, hence his suggestion to junior officers, f am quite aware (hat several juniors have written hon. members as directed by Mr. Combs. The great majority, however, being reasonable young men, who are able io think for themselves, merely read the circular and placed id in the wastepaper basket. One or two hon. members have also received a copy o' « resolution passed at a section meeting the the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association in reference to proposed reduction in taxation. THE RESOLUTIONS.

“This is another form of propaganda which is being carried on. ft re broadcasted from Wellington when carried and are telegraphed to the various newspapers. Owing to the manner i in which the propaganda is prepared by paid officials of the association and the way it has been carried on, many officers were unaware until recently of the true position of things. Some officers firmly believed that there were grievances which required adjusting, and they were inclined to support Mr. Combs in what looked like an honest attempt to have the grievances removed. During tins last year officers have heard on more than one occasion my department's side of the question, with the result they have felt that the facta were not being fairly placed before them by their organisation.

“I have good reason to believe that every officer who thinks for himself i« now fully aliv£ to the fact that Mr. Combs has been on an electioneering campaign during the last few yeaiw and that all the’ agitation engineered by him has been political and in the main has been inspired. I can only aay that I consider it is deplorable that th# principal officers of an association ahould allow paid officials to carry on propaganda w’ith which the large majority of officers entirely disagree.”