P. & T. OFFICERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2774, 18 May 1916, Page 3

P. & T. OFFICERS

CONFERENCE DECISIONS. •J?he Post and Telegraph Conference Ras continued yesterday, and -the iollow«S resolutions were made:— ■ lhat tuo principle should be established, and maintained when established, of tne reniaie euipioyee receiving the same pay as the maie employee, and that the scale of pay for male and female officers should be the same." That the principle should be established ot compulsory retirement of all offi. cers who liave reached sixty years of age, and have forty years' service." 'That the'maximum of Class VII, clerical division, be raised to .£245, to permit all officers in the class rising to the proposed maximum without examination restrictions other than' the present departmental efficiency tests." "That the maximum of. Class VI, clerical division, bo raised to .£290, as the present salary-difference between officers of tho Tank and file, and officers holding executive or controlling positions (.£ls) K not adequate recognition of the responsibilities of the latter." "That assistant dispatch clerks (telegraph office) be placed in tho clerical division, as their positions are -strictly clerical positions, and, in addition,' they have a great deal to do with moulding the characters of the boys placed in their control." ' The conference was of the opinion that this class of work should be carried ■out. by men of. character with the knack of handling irresponsible youths. Under present grading the position was a "deadend," and no man with a proper regard for his. future would remain in it .longer tlian lie could help, however much he might be suited to this important work. "That the Department be asked to abolish the sorters'. class, as tho Department makes not even a pretence of conlining sorters to sorting work, but uses them in other positions properly pertaining to clerks, and, in fact, makes them interchangeable with clerks as suits its convenience. ■ The sorters'. class is .a, cheap labour class, and should be abolished." ■ "That the maximum of letter-carriers end post office ■ messengers be raised to £200." . The conference fully supported the views-of the present Postmaster-General as expressed at a social function two years ago on this subject. , As his views were also held by the Attorney-General -when he piloted'the Public Service Billof 1912 through thfe House, it was. considered that tho statement and promiso' made Bhould be carried into effect. ' "That all letter-carriers be granted the Bame advantages as the carriers in the four centres regarding promotion. .'; Differentiation at present existed, and with a full knowledge of all the surrounding circumstanoes it -could not be admitted that this was warranted." . ."That lodging allowances, be abolished, ond a corresponding ■ increase in salary be granted to all officers whether stationed at or away from home."