POST AND TELEGRAPH OFFICES CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2480, 5 June 1915, Page 12

POST AND TELEGRAPH OFFICES CONFERENCE

IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS. The Conference of Post and Telegraph officers which commenced on Tuesday last, dealt with the re-organisation of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association. It was decided, after a lengthy discussion, that the time had arrived when the association should have an officer who could devote all his time to the work. To meet the extra expenses entailed by tho change, it was agreed that the annual subscription be increased and that the association become incorporated under the Unclassified Societies' Act. _It was agreed to ask the Commissioner to place officers of the Post and ; Telegraph Dcpartmpt on the same footing as other l'ublio Servants with rogard to medical certificates after absence cm sick leave. The Commissioner is to be asked to roview the conditions of Expeditionary Force leave with a view' to granting half-pay to all officers who are accepted by the Defence authorities. Tho conference considered that members of the Post and Telegraph Department who volunteered for service abroad and were forced to ■ resign, because leavo was refused t]n»m, sliould be reinstated and placed on leave, so thatj should they desire to re-enter the Service on their return, to New Zealand they may be able to do so without losing their seniority or superannuation. _ It was also resolved that representation be made to the Government urging that Clause 51 of tho Public Service Act, 1912 (the right to the Commissioner to dismiss any officer without giving any reason) be repealed in the 1 first amending Act. 'The conference deplored the fact that full reports of all interviews held ; by duly appointed representatives of the association aro nof supplied to the Department for publication in the "Official Journal" as heretofore, and urged upon the Commissioner the reconsidera- ' tion of his decision to withhold such 1 reports. It was decided that it is urgently necessary that all the rules and regulations applicable to the Post and Telei graph officers bo consolidated and reprinted. Other resolutions carried were: That the conference affirms the principle that in al) cases where it is necessary to relieve a - sonior officer or an officer filling a position which possibly will be raised in grade, tho officer next in line for promotion bo the one selected to temporarily fill the position. THiat tho sub-postmasters in extremely isolated offices be granted a quarter's rent iree, and a locality allowance at places where no rent of official quarters is paid at present. That money-order branches in firstgrado sub-ofliees be brought into line with chief offices as regards Saturday hours of attendance. That the Money Order and Savings Bank branches oi' the Department at all chief offices bo closed on Easter Saturday. That officers using their own typewriter in tiio office should bo granted ati allowance for same where it is certified that its use is necessary in the interest# of the Public Service. That steps should lie taken to have the constitution of the Appeal Board altered to allow of a Stipendiary Magistrate lining chairman of -tliio board, and that counsel be allowed to appear un behalf of any appellant. That in the opinion of this association the official rcvilies to appeals heard by tho Appeal Board should reach the appellant direct from the hoard. That, such replies -should sei out, the grounds for the decision arrived at. > Tlin.f the Appeal ll'.micl /ihouU! ;,i' L , A with open doom,