POST AND TELEGRAPH SALARIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17347, 30 September 1924, Page 11

POST AND TELEGRAPH SALARIES.

REPLY TO MINISTER. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, September 29. Mr H. E. Combs, secretary of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association, replying to Mr Coates, says: “The Postmaster-General's statement is so full of generalities that it is hard to know where to begin in replying to him, but one may fairly take his reference to the extravagant salary demands put forward by the association, and generally endorsed by 7000 members.” The association, he said, asked for the restoration of the 1914 standard of living. As its members did not live in an extravagant fashion in 1914 far from it—it was for Mr Coates to prove that such a demand was extravagant. As a matter of fact, although the cost of living for all groups was over 60 per cent, higher than it was in 1914, the association only asked that the maximum for telegraphists, etc., should be raised by 39 per cent., and for postmen, etc., by 33 per cent. It. only asked that telegraph messengers be- paid £6o for the first year and £7O for the second, whereas, in Australia, they were paid £77. That the Department was in a position to agree lo these moderate demand? was shown by its annual report and the Budget, in which the value of the concessions in postage and telegraph rates was estimated to be over £600.000. Mr Combs said he wanted to make it clear that lie never had a personal discussion with Air Coates on the salary question. Every time he met Air Coates it ivas as one of a deputation from the association, and what was said during the course of the interview was said on behalf of the organisation, and under its instructions. He was in agreement with the representations made, and still thought they were very reasonable, especially as the Government had a handsome surplus in hand, and therefore was in a position to pay.