POSTAL ASSOCIATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18795, 17 November 1932, Page 7

POSTAL ASSOCIATION.

QUESTION OF STATUS. STATE RECOGNITION DENIED. NOT PERMANENT. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. When the estimates of the Post and Telegraph Association were under consideration in tiie House of Representatives to-day the action of the Government in refusing official recognition to the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association was discussed by Labour members. The PostmasterGeneral, the Hon. A. Hamilton, replied that no good purpose would be served by reviving the circumstances connected with the action that had been taken. He hinted, however, that nonrecognition uf the association would not be permanent. Mr M. J. Savage (Labour —Auckland West), expressed the opinion that the Government could deal more satisfactorily with the association than with Individual members of the Post and Telegraph service. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr H. E. Holland, said because the Government developed the suspicion that the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association was leaning In a certain direction, it took steps to refuse recognition to the association. It was extraordinary that because of those circumstances recognition should be refused. lie was given to understand that the association had asked the Government for a non-political tribunal to settle working conditions, and had agreed to accept the conditions laid down by that tribunal. Thp association had given an undertaking that if that right were extended to it, it would keep free of political entanglements. It seemed to him that recognition had been refused the association as a matter of political retaliation. One or Two Irresponslbles, The Hon. A. Hamilton said officers of the department were as loyal as those to be found anywhere. He did not think that Mr A. S. Richards had been very far wrong when he had said the trouble was due to one or two irresponslbles. Mr R. Semple (Labour —Wellington East): And you penalise the lot. The Minister said he did not believe in individual bargaining. He agreed that collective bargaining was preferable. Tbe trouble might be healed in time and he did not know that it was advisable to go into the matter too deeply'. Mr D. G. Sullivan (Labour —Avon): Will this business be permanent? Mr Hamilton: I don’t think that is Intended.

Mr Savage sought to move an amendment with the objoot of postponing consideration of the Estimates to give the Minister opportunity to arrange a conference with officers of the association with a view to bringing about the principle of collective bargaining between the department and the association. The amendment was ruled out of order, but Mr Savage moved to report progress with the same object in view. The amendment was defeated by 33 votes to 17.