P. AND T. OFFICERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 263, 2 August 1919, Page 9

P. AND T. OFFICERS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

, AFFILIATION WITH LABOUR PARTY

REJECTED

The conference of the Post anil telegraph Officers' Association was continued vesierday morning, wnen several matters of iinmediato concern to tho association itself were considered at somo length. It was decided that a, referendum be taken of the linemen employed by the Department as to whether Hie present system of separate representation at conference should be continued. A motion that postmen bo placed on a similar footing to linemen in this regard was lost. ... „ It was decided to circularise nil sections inviting- applications for the position of 1 assistant secretary at a salary of. £M per annum, the to take up duties as from October 1. A proposal that a referendum bo taken throughout the service as to the advisability or otherwise as to becoming amliat : ed withSthe New Zealand Labour Party provoked a long and lively discussion, 'i'hoso supporting tho motion pointed out that last conference passed a motion claiming ful civic and political rights, and that a corollary to that motion was that the association should link up with some party. They would have three distinct political parties in the near future, and it was thought that those parties comprising the present Coalition Government were never likely to give an organisation such as theirs any political jowers, and that the Labour Party was tho only one likely or 1 willing to concede the organisation a place. The opponents to the.motion considered generally that once the organisation joined any partioular body the other political combinations would have nothing more to do with them. Last year the conditions of the service were such that they had made it their business to piace them before all members of the House, irrespective of their party or beliefs. The rer suit had bliowii that members were very ready to listen to a statement of their case, and when the case was a good one to work in a practical way for the improvements advocated, The.y could. not tie their membera to any political belief by such action, nor was it right that they should do so. Members should be free to voice their opinions if they felt inclined, and to give assistance to any party they believed in, but they should not be bound to fall in with the actions of one particular party, when for very good reasons they might be personally opposed to doing so. If they 'lined up in the way that was suggested public opinion would be immediately against them, and apart altogether from that, a very solid minority who were totally opposed to the La'bour Patty would probably tender their resignations as members of the association. It was pointed, put that the motion did not bind thein in ,any way, but simply 'asked that a referendum be taken and that it was only right to give members a chance to discuss the'matter and to test their" feelings by a ballot, The motion was lost.

A motion of censure was passed on those members who were agitating in the direction of forming'a. separate association, thereby splitting the ranks of tho P. and T. Association, aud requesting the branches where such movement had appeared to inquire into the circumstances, and, if necessary, apply rule 58, which entailed expulsion from the association. It was generally felt that the attitude. of these members was in direct conflict ,with the true interests of the service. Instead of .unity they would have individual sections voicing individual opinions, and ultimately working one against another. Some delegates considered the movement should not be taken seriously, as the motions published in tho Press wero the outcome of very small meetings controlled for the moment by irresponsible individuals. Delegates considered, however, that no matter how small or insignificant the number might ]>e who clamoured for separate organisations governing their particular section of Departmental activity, that 'the association should make a • clear-cut pronouncement The motion was carried unanimously. A motion of censure on tho Executive Committee for failing to provide assistance -to the Auckland members with their appeals was brought forward, but was not endorsed by ihe conference, which considered the executive had done everything in its power to meet an unfortunate and unexpected emergency. The following motion was carried:— "That this conference views with great disfavour the resolution of censure passed by tho .Auckland section on the Executive Committee." It was agreed that bona fide members of trade unions employed by the Department be granted membership in tho associathm at the reduced rate of Gs. per annum. 'That all applicants for permanent employment in the Department should be appointed contingent to their becoming members of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association. A motion that the headquarters of the assooiation be removed from Wellington was lost.. . . It was decided that an election to a position on tho Departmental Promotion Board or Appeal Board should entail resignation for tho time being from any executive position in the gift cf tho association. . • It was agreed that one penny per month per member should be earmarked to esa "distress fund" in order that a 'benefit of £20 may be paid to the widow or children or immediate dependant of any deceased member, to take effect as from' April 1 last. It was decided: "That tho Department be advised that for the future the association does not authorise any.of its officers to receive information relative to salaries and other general working conditions under a bond of secrecy." A special committee, consisting of 'Messrs. Mills, Paterson, Reynolds, and Whim-ay was set up to collect information .'concerning the Superannuation Fund, in order that the conference might make the best possible representation with the object of obtaining a substantial inoreaso to tho widow's allowance of £18, payable under tho present Act.