The Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5 1922. THE P.AND T. BALLOT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16701, 5 April 1922, Page 6

The Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5 1922. THE P.AND T. BALLOT.

The members of the Post and Telegraph Association gave an emphatic vote in favour of joining with the Alliance of Labour—the body which has taken the place of the old Federation of Labour. The three-fifths majority required to carry the proposal was sub ' stantially exceeded. The vote against affiliation was not insignificant, and nearly one thousand ballot papers were not returned. The fact remains, how- ! over, that the affirmative reply undoifbtedly reflects the mind of the association, and the executive lias no option but to take the necessary steps to effect the affiliation with the Alliance. Whether the Postmaster-Gen-eral lion J. G. Coates) will continue the recognition of tho Association under £he new circumstances remains t-o be seen. In an interview in Christchurch Mr Coates stated very plainly that he viewed the prospect of affiliation with strong disfavour. He said: ‘‘ We all know that officers are pledged to secrecy, and I am pleased to say that up to the present the service can be relied upon t-o maintain that oath. But what if the Officers’ Association was a port and parcel of tho One Big Union? Could the Government and the Administration rely upon each officer in the event of any extreme action on the part of the Federation of Labour? That question is sufficient in itself to suggest that for tho good of the country as a whole the joining up with the One Big Union is entirely wrong. If the good work of the association’s executive for years past is now to be shattered by the present day proposals urging affiliation with a body whose conditions and ideals are in no way similar to those of the Post and Telegraph officers, the position will naturally have to l>o reconsidered by all concerned.’* This can only be read as an intimation that the Association, if it chose to entrust its interests to the Alliance, would sever its relations with the Ministeral heads of the Department. Mr Coates having given the warning, it will lx; interesting to observe whether he will adopt the course which his warning suggested. We were and are of opinion that the members of an essential public service, which plays an important part in the transaction of the business and private affairs of oil sections of the community, should not be involved in any alliance which might require them to act against the public. Hie Alliance of Labour does not approve of one-sided bargains with its affiliated bodies. If its machinery is to be operated on behalf of the Post and Telegraph servants the latter must be prepared to act as the Alliance com- j tnands. The spectacle may yet be seen of the members of the Post and Telegraph Association being called out in sympathy with coal miners, slaughtermen. or wharf labourers. The P. and T. officers, in the event of industrial , trouble, would be required to handle a J great deal of mail and telegraphic mat- ! ter relating to the dispute. Employ- J era might hesitate before handing over I highly important or confidential tele- | grams relating to a labour dispute or j strike to a member of the Alii am.©. Members of the Association may be placed in a most invidious position, between loyalty to the Department and loyalty to the Alliance. We have ne doubt as to the choice the majority would make, but they should not have ! put themselves into the position of hav- j ing to make it. Public confidence is essential to the successful discharge of 1 the work of the Department, and in parting with their independence of outside influences the members of the Association will not promote that confidence .