THE POSTMAN'S LOT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1923, 4 December 1913, Page 7

THE POSTMAN'S LOT.

OMINOUS. UNREST AT BRITISH POST OFFICE.

CHRISTMAS STRIKE FEARED,

SABOTAGE ALLEGED.

By Tciesroph-Press Assaciolion-Couyrißht

London, December 3. I hero is spreading a demand by live postmen for an all-round 15 per'cent, increase in pay, instead ~F tho Govcrn"'?"j s offer of concession!! involving £100,000. Tho demand causes anxiotv ns to what may happen at Christmas: time.

I here aro ominous signs of dissatisfaction in London. It is reported that two type-writing machines at the Central Telegraph Office were dropped from the topmost lauding to the ground floor and smashed important telegraphic apparatus, _. that time-books recording operators' temporary absences were tampered with, and that many desk kevs have disappeared. The malcontents advocate that the proposed strike should assume tho form of working according to the rules, as they believe these arc so Mutually contradictory that the whole service would bo speedily reduced to chaos. SABOTAGE DENIED. (Rce. December 3, 10.35 p.m.) London, December 3. The alleged acts of. sabotage at tho Post Office are officially denied. The fear of losing their pension is considered to be a factor against the oostmen. going the length of a strike. The Postmaster-General (Mr. Herbert Samuel! met last month a deputation from the postal officials. He rejected the demand for an increase of 15 per cent, involving an extra two and a half million per annum, but said he was willing to grant (pncci-sions beyond tile Holt Committee's recommendations, involving an extra .£IOO,OOO. He added that in tho event of a strike the country would insist on steps being taken to render a recurrence impossible.