VOICE OF THE SERVICE.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19053, 18 September 1933, Page 3

VOICE OF THE SERVICE.

POST AND TELEGRAPH. :* EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION. REUNION IN HAMILTON. A pleasant atmosphere of conviviality pervaded the Masonic Hall in Claudelands on Saturday night, when the annual reunion of the WaikatoKing Country section of the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association was held. There was a .large attendance of members and their wives and visitors, including guests from as far away as Wellington, Auckland, Matamata, Taumarunui, Cambridge and Te Kuiti. From every aspect the function was a great -success. The chairman of the Waikato-King Country section (Mr J. F. Griflln) presided. A number of apologies were received, including letters from the Hon. A. Hamilton (Postmaster-Gen-eral) Hon J. A. Young (Minister of Health) and Messrs G. McNamara (Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department) and C. A. Mathieson (Chief Postmaster at Hamilton). The function took the form of a social evening, and there was a lengthy toast list, Interspersed with Hems. The first toast, “The Post and Telegraph Department,” was in the hands of the Mayor (Mr J. R. Fow), who referred to the development of the postal service since the introduction of Sir Howland Hill’s penny postage scheme in Britain in 18-10. It was one of the most popular of the public institutions. Referring to the recent trouble between ithe association and the Government, Mr Fow said he was pleased that this had come to an end and the association had been given recognition again. Return to Prosperity.

“The employees of the department have no reason to complain of the depth of public appreciation of their work,’ 1 said Mr D. P. O’Leary, the telegraph engineer, in responding to the toast; He congratulated the officers of the association on the happy consummation of their recent troublous period. The department was carrying on successfully, and there appeared to be indications of a return to prosperity, although it might he some time before conditions came back to those of the old days. A tribute to the service rendered by the officers of the department, men and women, was paid by Mr A E. .Manning, in proposing the toast of “The Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association.” The association had been in existence for over 40 years, he said, and it was essential that it should exist, as matters affecting a membership of seven thousand must have a voice. The association had had its troubles, and he congratulated it on the happy ending to which he hoped these troubles had come. While the association had been criticised, he assured the members of the Post and Telegraph Department that the public was proud of them. They had given great service—in fact, he knew no branch of the civil service that had given finer service. < A survey of the work and achievements of the ‘ association was given by the Dominion president (Mr W. F. Kent-Johnston) in responding. He mentioned that this was the first reunion held in Hamilton for some years. Loss of recognition by the Government was one of the reasons why there had been no reunion for some time. For about 16 months the Government withdrew recognition because the association was charged with being too political in nature. But it had never been partisan. Air KentJohnston reviewed the events leading up to the trouble of last year. The association’s attitude* on various questions and its opposition to wage cuts had resulted in loss of recognition. However, matters had been patched up, and it was now able to make representations to the department and the Government, although it was not quite on the same footing as previously.

Fair Treatment Wanted. The main difference between the old and the new arrangements was that the association had agreed to refrain from participation in politics, which meant that it had to make its representations direct to the Government. In the speaker’s opinion, if the association could no longer take political action to achieve its rights the obligation was on the Government to deal fairly with the large body of its servants in the association. It might be supposed that because a uniform salary scale operated in the civil service that all employees were on an equal footing, but this was not so. The post and telegraph service was a very big department, and was far behind the smaller departments where promotion was concerned. Post and telegraph men stayed longer In one class than any other civil servants, and lie contended that there should be some compensation for this. The association had this as one of its aims. The Post and Telegraph Department handed a lot of revenue to the Government, and he hoped the day would come when j„ would be a department entirely dissociated from other branches of the civil service, and having its own conditions of employment. Tiie Government was not. disposed to rgree to this at present, but he considered it should be kept in view and steps taken to obtain separate treatment for the postal service. Although control of the post and telegraph by Die Public Service Commissioner was abolished in 1918 the Commissioner still had power to veto appointments and promotions. Mr J. H. McKenzie, or Wellington, Dominion secretary ot' the association, also spoke, and referred to the keen interest shown in the affairs of the association. He reviewed the history of the association since its foundation over 4 0 years ago, and paid a tribute to the work of Mr Kciil-Jolinslon during the recent trouble. Mr McKenzie had a word of praise for the Post and Telegraph women’s organisation formed in Hamilton by Mrs KcntJohnston. The toast of “The Ladies” was proposed by Mr E. W. Ward, of the telegraph ofllec. who referred to the good work done by the local women’s organisation. A strong appeal for greater cooperation among Hie wives of members of Die service was made by Mrs W. F. Kent-.lohnston, president of the women’s- organisation, in replying to the toast. There were many ways in which the women's movement could assist, and she looked forward to Hie day when there would be brandies throughout blew Zealand. Co-operation was the

keynote of the organisation. The speaker - referred to the success of Mrs McCombs in the recent Lyttelton by-election, and said that, irrespective of her party, she had given a lead to the women of New Zealand in taking a part in its affairs. The health of the first woman to sit in New Zealand’s Parliament was then toasted. Other toasts were “The Press,” proposed by Mr W. C> wynne; “The Visitors,” proposed by Mr Griflln and responded to by Mr S. Mather, of Auckland; and “The Artists,” proposed by Mr W. E. Dwyer and replied to by .Mr G. Wheeler. 'The function concluded with the singing of “Aukl Lang Syne.” Enjoyable Programme. A feature was the excellent musical and elocutionary programme, which contributed in a large measure to the success of the gathering. Songs were rendered by Mrs'-. C. E. Wilson, Miss R. Sutherland, Messrs G. A. Wheeler and I. Anderson; violin solos by Miss Isabel Langlands; elocutionary items by Miss P. Torpy and Mr G. W. Moore; and jazz interpretations of classical numbers, on the piano, by Mr C. Leak, while Mrs 11. Absolum le J community singing. The accompaniments were played by Mesdames Absolum, N. Grant, Misse's E. Sutherland, I. McKinnon, and Mr B. Anderson.