POSTAL OFFICERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18023, 19 May 1930, Page 8

POSTAL OFFICERS.

LOCAL ASSOCIATION. annual meeting held. GENERAL SECRETARY WELCOMED The annual general meeting of the Waikato-King Country section of the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association,, was held on Saturday evening, Mr. W. F. Kent-Johnston presiding over a large attendance, which included groups from as far afield as Rotorua and Mamaku. After the formal business of the meeting Mr. Kent-Johnston, who is a member of the Dominion executive, gave an interesting resume of the recnt executive meeting in Wellington, from which he returned last week. His remarks appear elsewhere.

Dealing with many questions concerning the domestic affairs of the association, Mr. Kent-Johnston said the Dominion membership was now over 90 per cent, of the department’s employees, the financial position was sound and showed careful management and'very gratifying results had attended the small benefit schemes that had been built up to assist the dependants of deceased members. The special assistance given last year to members in the earthquake area of the South Island had cost about £3OO and that amount had considerably relieved the burden for those whose properties had been damaged. Mr. Kent-Johnston was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his report and for his past services as local chairman and representative on the Dominion executive. A Warm Welcome. The general business having been dispensed 'with the chairman introduced Mr. J. 11. McKenzie, general secretary to the association, who was greeted with cheers and the singing of “ He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” In responding to the welcome, Mr. McKenzie expressed pleasure at being present to participate in such a largelyrepresentative meeting and to listen to the thorough and comprehensive report delivered by the chairman. As he travelled round and met the members of the P. and T. service, said Mr. McKenzie, he was increasingly impressed with the fine type and efficiency of the men as a whole and he could find no better words to describe them than had been used in the greeting extended to him that evening; they were jolly good fellows. After referring to the salaries question, reported elsewhere, regret was expressed by Mr. McKenzie at the resignation of Sir Joseph Ward as Prime Minister, involving as it probably did the position of PostmasterGeneral, an. office held by Sir Joseph in the past with the greatest ability and understanding. After dealing briefly with a comparison of the functionings of the Railway and Post and Telegraph Appeal Boards, to the great disadvantage of the latter board, Mr. McKenzie answered effectively numerous questions. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. McKenzie terminated the business portion of the evening, after which an enjoyable social was held.