P. & T. SMOKE CONCERT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 32, 1 November 1918, Page 6

P. & T. SMOKE CONCERT

SPEECH BY SIR JOSEPH WARD ' THE LIVING WAGE The Post and Telegraph Officers' Association's smoke concert, tendered to the visiiing delegates to the annual conference, and held in St. Peter's Hall last evening, proved a ( huge success. Pivo tables extending over the length of tho hall were well filled. . Mr. W. J. Mayer, chairman of the local association, prosided, and the vice-chairman was Mr, W. G. Morgan. The chairman', in opening the proceedings, said that the 6Bioke concert was arranged by tho Wellington Association to welcome the delegates, and on behalf of tho local association lie extended to them a hearty welcome. After the loyal toast and the singing of o. song, the Chief Postmaster, Mr. A, P. Dryden, proposed tho. toast of thtf "P. and T. Department." In doing so, Mr. Dryden said tho business of tho department had grown to bo a very large and very complex one.. Each branch was a business Un itself. "Yet," he said, "the irresponsible critic writes and says he can teach us poor servants our business." In IfISG tho annual report stated that the turnover was ,£10,000,000, whilo the turnover to-day he thought was between ,€60,000,000 and .£70,000,000. During the past thirty-two years the turnover must have been about a thousand millions, and ho felt safe in saying that not .£SOO was lostindefalea-' tions. It was a mistake to suppose, as some moss-grown gentleman maintained,that there were no .young men growing up to fill positions, for wherever he had gone in the Department he had found zealous, capable, and energetic young men capable of filling any position in the service if they had the chance.

Mr. F. B. Waters, First Assistant Secretary to the Department, responded in tho absence of Mr'.. W. R. Morris, who was unable to attend. He though the Department offered as good an opportunity for advancement to tho young men in the service as any other office. Sir Joseph Ward arrived at the hall soon after 9 p.m., and was given an ovation, as were also Mr. H. Hollaud, M.P., and Mr. P. Eraser, M.P.

The toast of the "P. mid T. Association" was proposed by Mr. J. Murrey, who said that the toast was the most important one, but he could tell them nothing that they did not'know. He referred to the conditions existing before the association was formed, and to the conditions that had been brought about mainly by the efforts of the association. But the members of the Department were not yet satisfied. They, were dissatisfied with .their classification and pay. Messrs. N. R. M'lsaac and Mr. H. E. Combs, permanent secretary of the association, responded. The former said that the object of the association was to obtain a living wage 1 for all members on attaining manhood. If the objects of the association were- attained the Department would be as attractive as any for promising and capable lads. He contended that the Public Service Act had failed in its object, for it had not eliminated political influence, and he appealed to the Post' master-General (Sir. Joseph Ward) to remove the Department from the operations of the Public Service Act.

Mr. Combs said that the one concern of the members of tho service was how to live., Tho salaries were inadequate, and he'protested that it was not fair. There were many men who had had seven, or eight years' service who were not receiving Bs. per day. Ha gave instances of the low salaries, and said that they wanted the Department to be in the position of offering a career to boys. The association had reached the parting of the ways and demanded a change. They wanted improvement from tho bottom upwards. ' • , The toast of "Parliament was entrusted to Mr. H. A. Huggius, Controller of Accounts, and he said that wo must not revile our institutions. Parliament was made up of all sorts of men, but we must not forget that there were all sorts of people in the country, and it was ngh. that everv section of the community should- be" represented in Parliament. . Sir Joseph Ward, in responding, said he was glad to be present and hear the views of the responsible officers of tho association. He contended that-every member in Parliament was anxious to da everything possible for everyone in tho community. He was Postmaster-General when tho association wns formed and tt was he who gave ] them the right of- approaching the heads of the Department. He was, .in favour of the officers of the association being privileged to make their .representations to the head of the Department. But what was done for the P. and T. Department must bo done for all Departments. He was a believer in a living wage, and not long ago he stated publicly, that «C2OO a vcar for a married man in his early-married life was not too much to pav him. The association was asking for an adjustment of services with a view to obtaining a living wage and promotion in order of merit. He was a beliover in both. Classification was a very ■rent thing, for it enabled them to knowwhere they stood, but it had this great defect that when .minimum and maximum salaries were'i fixed it became automatic, long ago he was of the opinion that classification. would cnuse friction. That was what was troubling the Service, but the Commission could not alter it. He was of opinion that every man had the right on his services and, merits to receive a living waste, and the under dog needed more consideration than, tho upper dog. If a democracy was to depend upon its public servants and desired to havo men in its employ with brains, energy, and character, then ft must recognise that such men could not bo held if thbir remuneration was at a low rate. If men were to look for a career in tho P. and T. service, then men in the highest positions must be adequately paid. It was necessary to review the general position. The cost of living had risen ,1(1 ifier cent, since the war, but the increase in Britain was 118 per cent. But that was not a fair comparison, because New Zealand was a producing country and England had to import most of her foodstuffs. Hi; pointed out that the position of the Government was a difficult one; they had to look not merely at tho war period, but to the afiorwar period also. In order to-meet tha difficulties experienced by the men in the lower ranks, Cabinet had that day decided to givo the men and women in the Public Service ,£1.052,000. When ha returned from England he was told that in two . revenue-producing departments the estimated shrinkago was .£1,800,000, and thnt wns one of his difficulties. Ho* knew tho conference intended to interview the Government, and he was prepared to say that their views would bo entitled to consideration. They wot entitled to recognition on their merits and their services to the community. The association would lie met by a sympathetic Government that was anxious to help them. Whatever he could do he would do for them. When the war | was over they would have to take stock I and see where they stood, and how they were to meet' their obligations. Ho again assured those present that the deputation from (he conference would receive a sympathetic hearing. Mr. P. Fraser, M.P.. said that the Labour Party would help the association, and give them all tho assistance possible.

The other toasts honoured were "Tha Delegates," "Absent Comrades," and "Tho Press."

Tho toast list was interspersed with songs, contributed by Messrs. J. S. Connell. B. Hearts, 0. Cook, W. Gondio. J. Ciirr, H. F. Wood, and others. Mr. H. Godior was the accompanist.