P. & T. OFFICERS
THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE SALARIES AND THE COST OF LIVING The annual conference of tho Post and Telegraph Officers' Association was opened yesterday, in the Esperanto Hall, Lambton Quay. The following delegates were present:—Mr. E. J. L. Whiting (president), Messrs. V. S. Harris, It. J. Thompson, and S. A. Ogilvie (vice-presidents;, Messrs. H. M. Patrick, It. H. Brown (Auckland), H. M'Donnell (Thames),, (.t. B. Dinniss (New Plymouth*, J- M. Hogg, E. E. Haro (Wanganui), H. Tremewnn (Manawatu), J. H. M'Kenzie (Gisborne), E. B. Blewott, T. J. Morrison (Napier), H. E. Moore (Wairarapa), C. E. Collins, N. K. M'lsaac, G. A. Thomson (Wellington), W. Trane .(Blenheim), A. D. Baggs (Nelson), O. J. M'lUins (Wcstport), J. L. Hills (Greymo'.-.th), .A. Bice, A. S. Ward (Christchurch), F. H. Dephoff flimnrn), A. Leslie (Oamaru), J. M. Mackay, W. B. M'Kenzie (Dunedin), C. A. Mnthison (Ihvorcargill). After the preliminary business had been disposed of, tho president gave the delegates ii hearty welcome to Wellington. Ho said tho present occasion was a most important one. As the ..service was on the eve of recla-ssification, it was very gratifying to see tho character of tho delegation to deal with such a subject He felt sure thoso-present would give the closest attention .to it. The service was under grave disabilities as regards pay, apart from the effect of. the present high prices on the spending value of their money. They had their first complete year of the reorganised association behind them, and they were in a position to assess tho value of the. efforts of the preceding president (Mr. Camp) to bring about improvements. It was right that he and those associated with him should bo congratulated upon tho success that had followed the changes. Under the new scheme the membership had increased by 2905 members inside twelvo months, and they were in the happy, position of knowing that of- the total officers available for enrolment only 3CO remained as nonmembers. Conference would havo to seriously consider the advisability of appointing an understudy to their secretary. They wore calling upon him to do a great deal more work than they would bo prepared to do themselves, and it must bo recognised that he was working under too great a strain. With reference to the Appeal Board, ho would content himself with saying just then that there was a general feeling of disappointment with some of the methods of tho board ns it was at present constituted, and he hoped the con- ■ erence would repeat former efforts to have a Magistrate appointed as chairman. Appellants should have tho right to have counsel to represent them, unfettered by any ruling of the hoard. This would placo them on an equality with tho Commissioner, who was usually represented by tho Assistant-Commissioner (Mr. A.. D. Thomson), who was an ex-Magis-trate and a solicitor. If they could obtain this undoubted ri-iht, it would relieve their secretary of this class of work, and enablo him to devote/ his time more directly to association affairs. Their aims towards reclassification might briefly be summed up in their desire that all officers should roach tire/equivalent of a journeyman's wage in dbout tho same time as men employed in other walks of and that the opportunities for promotion and advancement should bo improved, so that they might look forward to as bright a future as was offered other public services, and as obtained in commercial and general business circles. The .position was now so bad that in order to effect improvement they were forced to advocate tho compulsory retirement of all officers with forty years' service who were entitled to a pension of i! 200 a' year. If they dealt faithfully with these important matters, as ho felt sure they would, they would earn tho thanks of tho whole service. The conference passed the'following resolutions:— "This conferenco endorses the action of tho Grand Council of State Servants in regard to tho efforts made towards reducing the high cost of living, and asks it to again impress upon the Government the necessity for making, a practical effort to fix such maximum prices for hnuselinld commodities as will effectually- eliminate undiio profits in tho production and marketing of the eame. If tho difaculties of doing this are held to bo insurmountable then salaries and' wages should he periodically raised to made 'real' wagea ruling prior to the war, and at the present time equal."
"This conference is of tho opinion that tho Government should bo asked to exercise tho powers conferred on it by Section 21 of the Public Service Act, and grant a pro rata increaso in salary to cover the decreased spending power of tho sovereign since the commencement of the war."
"That salaries should be paid fortnightly so ne to assist the lower-paid officers to take fullest advantage of tho benefits of paying cash for their requirements."
"This conference urges that tho war bomi6 already provided for by the Minister of .Finance should be allocated on a sliding scale; the number of the family of tho officer concerned taken into con-
sideration while tho bonus allotted to tho single officers drawing small salaries should be increased."
"Tlio association regrets that the Government, which took great caro (through tho Defence Minister) to ( recommend employers to help recruiting by granting part pay and allowances to their employees on active service, cannot grant part civil pay to Public Servants on active service, and urges that hall civil pi.V be granted to all Public Servants, such payment to bo retrospective. At tost the half pay should be granted to all officers performing specialist duties." "That the Department be urged to now give preference to married men for specialist positions—fliat rnon with practical experience be selected for these duties." "This conference pluses on record its appreciation of the secretary's endeavour to release all officers volunteering or called up for service with the Expeditionary Force."
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Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3176, 29 August 1917, Page 3
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984P. & T. OFFICERS Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3176, 29 August 1917, Page 3
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