"NO EVIDENCE OF DISCONTENT"

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22505, 13 September 1938, Page 7

"NO EVIDENCE OF DISCONTENT"

motion by postal

EMPLOYEES

CRITICISM OF COMMENT ON CONDITIONS REPORTS T,O OFFICIAL joMnal Disagreement with the expressions of dissatisfaction in the service contained in an interview with an employee in “The Press” last Thursday was expressed at a “fully representative” meeting of the North Canterbury section of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association. The motion is in conflict with reports from branch correspondents in the August issue of the “Katipo,” the official journal of the association. The resolution, forwarded to “The Press" by Mr L. M. Clarkson, the branch secretary, is: “That the North Canterbury Section Committee entirely dissociates itself with the newspaper article on conditions in the Post and Telegraph Department appearing in ‘The Press’ of September 8. “Further, this section committee regards this form of newspaper attack as insidious propaganda against the most progressive and humane Government which has ever controlled the destinies of the people of this Dominion. “The difficulties complained of are for the most pan matters of local or departmental interest, over which the Government has no direct conthis section committee can find no evidence of the seething discontent and hotbed of discontent complained of in the article, and that it has every confidence and faith in the present Government.” a . Thej first news page of the last issue of the “Katipo” contains a leading article on the retirement question. It states that the May issue contained the following relevant paragraph. me secretary (of the executive) was instructed to reply to several sections that had urged more vigorous action and inform them that the executive intended to persist if necessary with the request for full application of the retirement principle, but that at this juncture a reply tq recent- representations vjas being awaited from the Prime Minister, who had indicated that it was a question he would refer to a Cabinet committee for . further consideration.” . The: Whangarei notes in the “Along the Line” section of the journal, discussing. the retirement questiqn, say: “The future of every officer hinges to a large degree on this vital point, and it behoves all members to see that agitation increases in intensity from North Cape to Bluff.” “Becoming Untenable”

correspondent ’■'■'writes: “Whope that the Prime Minister hasgiven .a favourable decision on the 40-year retirement question, as, with the completion of reclassification, it is the most widely discussed matter of the day and is quickly taking the form of a grievance.” The Taihape sub-section, congratulating writers on the subject, said it would certainly be a great satisfaction to the service to hear that the Government had taken firm action. "The position is becoming untenable.” These words are printed in black letters in the notes from *the Napier telegraph branch, whose correspondent declares that “the executive committee are assured of the utmost support of the members in any action they may take to make the 40-hour week,inore effective and the 40-year retirement absolutely compulsory for all arid sundry .... If it is suggested that there are no capable officers to replace, those who have completed as many as 42 years in the service, someone has blundered, and the administration of this department is left open to all kinds of criticism.” Breach With Director-General

Full correspondence published in the “Katipo” shows that the association has ceased to discuss departmental affairs with the Director-General (Mr G. McNamara), and a general meeting in Wellington “very heartily endorsed the action (of the executive committee) to' secure rebuffs for the membership by making direct representation to the Minister owing to the continued failure to make any progress with representations through the departmental head.”

Regarding working conditions, the Wellington branch notes state: “We feel that the time is considerably overdue for the Postmaster-General to make a searching investigation into the tnanner in which the Government’s Policy ;ls being applied (or otherwise) to staff matters. It is considered tha‘ the Government would not for one hrinute tolerate some of the things done in the name of departmental Policyßecent changes in the staff division, together with a growing spirit. °f intolerance towards ‘human weaknesses’ on the part of officers, have i, a ; somewhat disturbing effect on 'rilsitdiiern.ts ot service matters." expressing the view that the executive committee and the “Ka«Po” , had been most patient in Waiting for the Government to move, the Dunedin correspondent Writes; “We all realise that you did Pot wish to embarrass the Government With repeated' requests, but still. ?s time rolls on and another election is nearing, it is high time something nefinite was done. . . . We have good reason .to expect something better from ™. e Government, bearing in mind the fact that other workers have oeen dealt by them satisfactorily." Other correspondents write in thr fame strain- a few bring in an advocacy of the Labour Government and an “hack on the past administration.

Christchurch Complaints . Christchurch is not aloof, from critictsnt in its notes. The writer of the t branch notes sends the fol“I*i connexion .with recent Promotions, there is some Wn&eri? felt bv the staff here at the manfftgf in which the intermediate steps SJ e being used to lower the value of *? e positions. We contend that the ac~P n of the department in expecting officer to accept promotion to anoiher town (probably some hundreds r 1 hides afield) for an increase of £2O Per annum is unfair. . . . We agree with Jne Napier correspondent who said that S* . telegraph side is being hit the “aj-degt in this respect.” tia. t* l6 Christchurch telegraphists ““Ve another complaint. “What has hapS®®®d to the 36-hour week for straight ni e -i.in telegraph offices, promised by •W Director-General some time ago? jwegraph men throughout the country ter» feeling dissatisfied over this mat-

Mi?? H n ®smen also publish their comSlants against the system of reporting 0 “ r Promotion and the pay and hourf camp cooks. “When we consider a 3* a. good'cook is a. tradesman, and .skilled one at that, it is beyond us why our Department inwsts on paying a cook at a much lower

hourly rate than an unskilled labourer,’’ this branch reports. The words “seething discontent *n the service” appear in the report from the mechanicians’ branch of the Christchurch section. Its report reads: "We are anxiously awaiting the quitting of office of all those officials ydth 40 years of service who are still hanging on, despite the seething discontent in the, service over* this question, it is hoped that compulsory retirement for all those concerned will take effect before the elections, as that will definitely mean more votes for this Government.”

The views of the Christchurch mechanicians on working conditions are'" contained in the following paragraph: “It was astounding to read in last month’s ‘Katipo’ the International Review of Statistics on compensatory allowances for night work performed by Post and Telegraph Officers in other countries. .Night work in any automatic exchange in New Zealand is definitely detrimental to health fcr the following reasons: unhealthy air conditions, atrocious lighting, noise and eyestrain. Mechanicians would welcome some compensation, and the Australian or the United States allowance, if applied here in New Zealand, would be greatly appreciated. A 10 per cent, monetary allowance would not be, too much, especially when in many, cases the atmospheric effects upon apparatus are considered before the welfare and health of the staff.”