POST AND TELEGRAPH

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1907, 15 November 1913, Page 8

POST AND TELEGRAPH

CONFERENCE. i , DISPUTE WITH COMMISSIONERS,. RESOLUTION EXCLUDED. DEPUTATION IiEACHES A DEADLOCK, Something resembling «, deadlock arose when a deputation representing tho Conference of Past and Telegraph" Department OlDcors, which sat recently in Wellington, waited upon the Public Service Commissioners to present the resolutions passed by tho conference. Tho first resolution presented by the deputation was to tho effect that the conference, ". . . . after comparing the classification list for post and telegraph officers with that for other Civil Servants, is of opinion that different standards of valuation have beer, adopted when drawing tip the respective lists, with detriment to post and telegraph officers. It is of opinion that responsibility (speaking in general terms) 13 as high in the post and telegraph, service, that tho duties are as arduous and that they aro equally as important as those of other Civil Servants. It, therefore, places upon record a strong protest against this differentiation, and urgss upon the Commissioner? the necessity for rectifying tho anomaly. . . ." Tho Commissioners objected to this resolution on two grounds: That the allegation it contains was not supported by evidence, and that it comprised an impeachment of the Public Service Commission which they, could not accept. No conclusion was rcaolietl, and tho deputation withdrew its members, which comprise one-half of the conference delegates, the remainder having returned to tlieir various stations. Subsequent to the interview with the Commissioner tho delegates comprising the deputation met to consider the position, and passed the following tcsolution: — "That this deputation, which consists of only half the number which attended the recent conference, regrets _ that it cannot accept the resnottsibility of withdrawing anv motion, framed by conference as a whole. "In submitting comparisons between the Post and Telegraph Department and tho general Public Service, such comparisons of classified officers have been based upon tho salaries drawn by_ responsible officers in executive positions in the Post and Telegraph Department who are drawing .salaries only equivalent to those payable to officers in tho general Public Service classed under such a heading as 'clerk.' The latter are evidently doing ordinary rank and file duties. The maximum for tho rank and filo of the Post and Telegraph Department appears to be set en a lower scale than that in other Departments." The delegates will now report to their constituent branches of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association.