POST AND TELEGRAPH.

Timaru Herald, Volume 170, Issue 170205, 1 May 1920, Page 2

POST AND TELEGRAPH.

TIMARU BRANCH. At a well-attended meeting of the Timaru branch of the Tost imd Telegraph Association the following resolutions were passed : •'That this masting strongly resents thie Prim© Minister's discourteous treat ment of J our executive committee in refusing to arrange mi interview as previously promised. \\ v & now requestour Executive to demand the right to be heard, and that the Prime jYhnister be requested to arrange an interview forthwith; and further we again, press for the immediate payment of the war bonus promised by Sir Joseph Ward. Failing a reasonable - attitude on the J.-nrt of the Prime Minister we request our Executive' immediately to arrange a secret ballot to decide on a further course of aotion. "That this meeting tenders the railwayraen its best Irishes for a successful raid early termination of tlieir fight for improved conditions, and further informs this' Association's •' Executive that it is favourable to the .striking of a levy to financially assist tih e men affected." . " •'7-- T

AUCKIAND OFFICERS' STRONG RESOLUTION. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 30. _ The Executive of the Auckland section of the Post and Telegraph Oi fibers' Association to-day carried the following hotly-worded resolution: "We consider th e shelving; of the war bonus promised by Sir Joseph Ward to- be a. disgrace to any Government and an insult to the intelligence of the members of the Post and Telegraph service; "We desire that the Press be fully advised that despite frequent requests within the last few months 110 interview- with tile Premier or Postmaster-General has been granted. The time is now opportune to press the claims of the service in conjunction with those of the railway, that a definite salary, excluding boouus, be fixed immediately, such salaries) to be based upou the relation of the cost of living now and! that obtaining in 1914. In our opinion the Government itself is causing discontent 'oy not fixing salaries on a- fair basis as it has made other employers do, and any strike -which has been or will be the outcome of euqh silly dallying will be entirely warranted, to impress 011 the Government the feelings of the men. We ask that the Executive Council be called together immediately, temporarily waiving rule 17 A (which provides for a month's notice), and failing consideration of our \ demands the Executive instructs all branohes to call stop-Work meetings to consider what further action shall be taken."

INTERESTED IN RAILWAY STRIKE.

HAMILTON, April 30. . Mr Brown, vice-president of the North Island P. and T. Association, in a statement to-anight, indicated that the Postand Telegraph men were in the railway strike, because the Prime Minister had stated that whatever was 1 granted to the railway men would he granted to other branches of the ser--vice. He believed the public was sympathetic, and that public opinion was 1 strong enough to prevail over the states-' men of the country. The Press Association has sent-tele-grams from several other centres dealing with this subject in a more or less similar manner.

BALLOT OF STRIKE

AUCKDAND, April 30. _ The Auckland Railway Officers' Institute/held a strike ballot to-day. AI--though the officers declined to make a statement as to the l-eeulf of the ballot it is /understood that there was .a. two-to-one majority in. favour of a strike.,-

RESOLUTIONS OF BRAiNCH.ES

WANGANTTI, April 29. A special general meeting; of the Wanganui- branch of the Railway Officers' Institute was held last might, with a record attendance. The following reso-1 iution was ■unanimously carried:—"That this meeting cannot accent any Royal Commission other than, a Royal Comxnission set tip to determine what increases are necessary to bring salaries and wages up to their pre-war value, and will, support to their utmost every constitutional means taken by the Executive to obtain our just cialms for the salary schedule submitted to the aWges Inquiry. Board." Tt was nlso resolved that the Executive (Council be requested to extend all moral and practical support to the A.S.R.S. and E.F.C.A. in their battle. : .■ MASTERTON, April 29. The Wairarapa branch the Post .and Telegraph-. Officers' Association-:■ passed. ■resolutions urging the . Esecutive' to' se-:-cure an interview with tlie Prime- Minister and the* • Po«tmaster-General,?» nd" that failure oi - -postponement of .the' interview bo regarded' as hostile to the •service nnil lie acted upon as such after forty-eight hours; that the Executive again demand payment of the promised war bowus : and that the iWairara.pa eection wholeheartertly supports tho■ railway service, and will make no action todefeat the raifovaymen in their just?