P. AND T. EMPLOYEES FAVOUR SYSTEM OF ARBITRATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18940, 10 December 1929, Page 9

P. AND T. EMPLOYEES FAVOUR SYSTEM OF ARBITRATION.

AIM TO GET AWAY FROM “ POLITICAL CONTROL.” Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, December 10. Addressing a largely attended meeting of P. and T. employees last night, Mr J. H. M’Kenzie, general secretary of the P. and T. Employees’ Association, said that it was proppsed to ask the Government to place the service under the system of arbitration, in order to remove it from the present political control. In his opinion the service would never get far under political and partisan control. Questioned as to the association’s policy of compulsory retirement after forty years’ service, Mr M’Kenzie was most emphatic on that point. He said that he had already protested to the Postmaster-General and the Secretary of the Department in regard to a recent case of an officer with over forty years’ service being retained. So far no satisfactory reasons for his retention had been presented. The case was causing much concern amongst the senior officers. Retired officers were also wanting to know why they had been forced out of the service. Mr M’Kenzie said that the association’s efforts were directed to obtain improved salary conditions for lowerpaid officers. It was strenuously fighting for a minimum wage of approximately £4 a week upon attaining the age of twenty-one years. The institution of a special class for certain qualified officers was undoubtedly a sop to alienate support of the association’s demands for a general re-classification.