POSTS AND TELEGRAPHS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16502, 1 August 1919, Page 3

POSTS AND TELEGRAPHS.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 31. The annual conference of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association opened to-day, Mr. J. Mulvey (Wellington) presiding. The president, after, welcoming the delegates, said he had not been in favour of a speedy conference, but fell in with the wishes of the majority. It was, in his opinion, unjust and unfair to criticise the classification in the hasty way that had been done. He believed the department had had the intention, and still had the desire, to redress legitimate grievances, and would do so in a way that would ultimately satisfy the service. If a further instalment of the war. bonus was granted it would certainly be .a relief, but, after all, the bonus was only a palliative, and not a remedy.. WELLINGTON, August 1. Continuing his address at the Post and Telegraph conference, the president urged the 'compulsory retirement of the older'officers.' The ‘Government’ should not have the slightest compunction in retiring these old officers, and he believed that there was already sufficient t authority to retire them without any special legislation. The position was very acute and was probably worse in their departments than in any other. While saying this he would like to say that if the present secretary who had reached the age limit could be retained until after reclassification had been absolutely cleared up he believed, it would be to the benefit of the service as, » whole. He was strongly of opinion that the position of .president and member of the Promotion Board should he held by a separate and distinct person, this would especially be necessary when, the real work of reclassification began.