P. AND T. OFFICERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 262, 1 August 1919, Page 8

P. AND T. OFFICERS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

The annual conference of the Post and Telcj!r«|)li Officers' Association was openoJ in the Y.M.C.A. rooms yesterday. 'J'he president (Mr. J. .Uulvey, Wellington) presided, ami the l'ulloivins delegates were present: .Messrs. .1. 11. ii'Kcnxie, Gishorue, and W. If. ll'Kinzie, Duiiedin (vice-presidents). A. Mill. H. .vl. Patrick, R. J. Stewart (Auckland); W. B. 'iVas<hili.< (Thames), \V. It. (.1. Brown, .1. T. M'tirane (\V«ikato), W. K. C'oleman (New IMyiiiouth), 11. 11. Brown, .1. M. Hug',' liViinganui), •>• Cilynn (Manawati'i). \V. J. L. Whim-ay (tiisborne), A. AJ. Herbert (Napier), If. K "Williums (Wairarapa), If. Jv. Couper, K. Y. Boyes, G. C. Patcrson. R. )i. Reynolds (Wellington), A. Bico (Blenheim), 0. J. .Jlullius (Nelson), P. ICear (West-port), L. L. Hills (Cireymouth), If. Lankan, F. W. Matliews, H. Shaw (Christciuircli), J". V. iM'Keague (Timaru), W. W. Wilson (oamaru). U. I , '. Jackson (.puncdin), and N. Ui. Wallace (Invercargill). I After various preliminary details bad been agreed to or arranged the delegates were divided up into committees to SO through the order paper and revise the various groups of remits, so as to rediiio the business as far as possible without disadvantage to the essentials. The president welcomed the delegates to Wellington, and said he thought the si rvice was to be congratulated on the calibre of the delegation, and he was quite satisfied that hail all come vith the full intention of doing all they possibly could to better the conditions ot the members who elected them. He wi-nt on to say that it was not long since their last conference, which had proved such a memorable one. Although only a short time had elapsed many things had I happened. The principal one had been tho rectification which had given rise to widespread expression of discontent land had eventually led to their 'being j called together-so early. Personally' he I hnd not been in favour of a. speedy conference, as ho considered it essential that members should have ample time to weigh and-consider the information disclosed in the list. It was, in his opinion, unjust and unfair to criticise tbo classification in the hasty way that had been the case. Before they had had time, to digest tho information the list contained some sections and members had rushed into print and scattered wholesale their criticism. Some of the statements made were exaggerated and some were even untrue. He had no desire to block fair criticism, but they must, if their remarks were to be effective, leave out what was -exaggerated and certainly not endorse anything that was contrary to fact. There was no good in speaking in generalities. He.had read all the reports of meetings that were available, and he did not hesitate to say that w members had apparently not got down to business. They had passed swci-pniK resolutions which would lead any outsider to believe that the list was no good from top to bottom. In his capacity as a member of the Promotion Board ho had travelled considerably since tne list was published, and he felt, he was in a position lo say that many of tli-.-resolutions that had appeared in the daily papers did not reflect the views m the individual members of the service l<any great extent. The list disclosed many things which were a great improvemenl. For instance, an officer receiving promotion Is granted the full salary ot his new'position immediately. This was a very big advance on the old order ot things when owing to the email increments a man might take many years lo recover the loss he would bo under in removal expenses. The compilation ot tlie list "was a huge task, and it was not pi:=eibls to classify the service in accordance with the full intention of the Act. but given reasonable time the many grievances and anomalies disclosed would lie , righted. Naturally the person to b;ucnt most was the newcomer, who would advance from the minimum, to the maximum in a marvellously short time compared with the experience of officers who had been in the service for many years. Older officers would well remember the many years they .were required to pt in before they reached the top of their class or grade. He advised then to pick out exactly what was wrong and be careful to submit only what was true. It was no good bein» careless of facts. They should be particularly careful ot them and when they were sure of them they should fight for needed dunces tur all they were worth. The crying rw-ii Uiid been increase of salaries, am. tlio Department had tried hard to meet that need. The improvements made were based 'on the known rise in the cost m living, and at the time they were tixecl oiv no one bad the slightest suspicion that the abnormal conditions prevailing M-ould get worse rather than better. At present it seemed that there was a likelihood of prices going higher, supplies were shorter, and both shipping ami ,ci ill supplies were more or less disorganised. This, therefore, was an argument they Miight use in urging reconsideration. He, believed the Department had the intention and still had the desire to redress legitimate grievances, and would do so in a way that would ultimately satistj the service. If a further instalment m the war bonus were granted it -would certninlv be a relief, but after all the bonus was only a palliative and not a remedy Hβ iiad personally been the targei. ot a "reat deal of. hostile criticism, which he n felt he did not deserve. He was only one member of a board of hve, and if criticism were due, he was only due one-fifth of it. The list was issued hurriedly to meet the urgent need for bi><ter salaries. If the 1 }- had taken the tune that was necessary to convey into the list tho complete provisions of the Aα the service would still be waiting tor its appearance. Again, he had been criticised for his absences trom AVellmgton; hut when the list came out there was a great deal of misunderstanding, and there was also the opinion in some quarters that the full r.rovisions of the Act should have been embodied in it. 11ns, however, hnd been impossible, as the Department did not have the full information that was essential to carrying out these provisions. This might be a strong way to put it, but he was quite sure it was correct. Next year this in-, formation would be to baud, and the real classification would appear in the lijftt list. To have delayed this year while the service was crying out from all quarters for the improved salaries would have been the greatest cause for diseonS tent Dossible. The list was therefore published, and as the result ot the misunderstanding that prevailed it was Mlallv decided that he should visit ns niiuiy centres as possible, and explain matters to members. It bad been .stated that he had apologised foi the list, but no. thin" was further from the liu-t, as those delegates who had attended moelings lie hnd addressed would readily admit. He \ did not go round apologising for the luji. 1 and he was not apologising yet. He maintained that a fairly honest attempt was made to improve the conditions ol the service. A lumber of material improvements had been given eheel 10, wit rh» date waa not e.ifficient to give cflect to the "merit" clause. He waruci. uele■••iircs that as soon as that clause, was npnliod they would have to face a great diml of criticism and outcry. .Merit was a very abstract quantity, and it was hard to judge what a man was really worm. The reiwrte on the files were. very poor, so Far as they gave a lead lo judging th; worth of officers. Tho special repot, wei'e an improvement, but the reporting ~unmittces had started laic, and th? reports were not as full as .they might e, i while they did nut get right round the i -ervice This move towards establishing i uniformity was a good one, and would be better when it had been extended so I that the 'reporting officials could take more lime over Hie duty. It was their duly as delegates lo do all in their power lo force Hie Department to establish a sound system for thn valuation of ofh,'er=' values, so that full cftsct could be Kiven to the "merit" principle of the nmv Act. Report?, both annual am, MiiHtial. would have to be much fuller. When (he Department was able lo Like iin an officer's report mid gauge hts-aJMI-I i> v and worth it would . be time to cry a, ! halt It .was absolutely impossible to ■ iudge a mail's qualifications on five minutes' acquaintance, as had been atlenipl- ' Hi. no matter how good a judge of chaiac- ', ter or work a reporting officer might be, •■ and it was in the ii tercsts of the shift that reports should be fuller 60 that merit and value could be established. As stated earlier, he had not agreed with the movement for the immediate i callintr of conference, but ho fell in with the, wishes of the majority, After tlie ,

date hod been fixed a movement sprang up m Auckland to linvc the meeting postponed, but the Executive Committee was powerless to alter arrangements completed. The plebiscite taken at the instance of Auckland had been taken up bv lour other brunches only, and there was nothing left to do but to go on with, the programme. Postponement would have meant mi inimeiliato advantage to Auckland, as the permanent secretary could then have been released to assist Auckland appellants with their appeals. But their sain in this matter would have been at the expense of some other centre' later. The dilncuity was that they had no understudy hi the secretary, and"there was nobody to get the "Katipo" ovit in his absence or to dispatch the other business of the organisation. To remedy this there were no delay over making the applications for the position, and , they would be asked io confirm this action, and to fix the salary tor the position. 1£ there was no delay over making the appointment the present difficulty would.be ended, lie ntigcosted that a salary of X'M should be tittered, with increases .later, as the ability of the man appointed was disclosed.

A burning matter these da ye. was the housing tiueslion, and it was especially home in un officers stationed in Welling-' ton. where it was impossible to get a house except at mi exorbitant rental. This was also the case in every village and hauiiet, and was a special hardship un oUicer-s who were on the move more than most, and had to compete with local people. J.t was absolutely imperative that the Department should build houses lor officers, not only in Wellington,-but in every town. The Governmeiu was certainly pledged to build two hundred houses spread over New Zealand, but that number would not relieve the congt.stitm in Wellingtou alone. They would be pleased to note that the finances were on the improve, mid the membership dhowed an increase, there being 7lißl members to-day against 752J -last year. .Their epidemic experience had been a very sad one, and they had to witness widows and families of members in great distress. They had passed round the hat, but though offtcers responded wall, the sum cullected diil not go far wkh so many dependent on it. It was sad to think that they had no provision to meet such emergencies, and he hoped this year would see a start made with the "death beneht fund" mooted some, years ago. J Ins wouli\ tidt. then, ever emergencies of a similar nature. In the annual report thev would note a further suggestion to earmark a portion of 'the increased income as a "distress" fund, and-tins deserved their serious consideration. 1 lie niie=tion of conißulsory retirement alter forty years' service vas also very important. In the present case the secretary was unfortunately,concerned, as he. was over sixty-five.