P. AND T. ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 4 May 1925, Page 4

P. AND T. ASSOCIATION.

ATTACK ON ME. COMES. THE KATIPO AND PROPAGANDA (By Telegraph—Press Association.) 'CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. At a special general meeting of the Canterbury section of the 'Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association, there was a small attendance. The chairman '(Mr. 11. B. Ward) moved, "That this section, recognising Mr. Combs’ worth and ability, and believing that irrespective of party, lie would be an asset to Parliament, extends 'him cordial good wishes for his success; that his services as permanent secretary be retained in the meantime; that 112 days’ accumulated leave be granted as early as possible; this section is of opinion, however, that any such accumulation of leave is wholly undesirable, and strongly urges the Executive Committee to guard against any repetition in the future; that, the' section, recognising that the Association consists of . about SOOO members with widely differing political views, is strongly adverse to the use of the Katipo for party jiropaganda. ” The chairman deprecated the attack on Mr. Combs, who had done good work for the Association. They had advocated political rights, and it was, therefore, unfair to deny Mr. Combs such ■right, since lie had placed his resignation in the hands of the : Association. The motion was passed, the opinion being expressed that the Katipo had been used too much for political purposes. The chairman bioved that the executive take steps to rescind the motion to affiliate with the Alliance of Labour. He submitted that instead of gaining anything by deciding to affiliate, mebers had in fact gone back. Mr. Turner said there, was no chance of any Government in future allowing public servants to join up with outside Labour organisations, owing-'to the confidential nature., of their work. The only way to get their, grievances seen to was through members of Parliament., If there was a strike th<e commercial ;eommbrcial community would get together and break it, as the telegraphs were essential. j - ■ The Alliance was described by Mr. Lawrence as a.useless body, of no service to Labour and of no use to the Association. As the meeting had dwindled to less than a quorum, the matter will have to be decided later.