P. AND T. OFFICERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 103, 26 January 1920, Page 5

P. AND T. OFFICERS

REUNION AT MASTERTON. Br Telegraph-Special Correspondent. Masterton, January 21. The much-discussed question of tho payment of a bonus has not been forgotten in the Post Office; it has only lulled for the timo being. However, according to tho opinions expressed at the annual reunion of tho Wairarapa section of the P. and T. Officers' Association, held on Saturday evening, thcappropriation clause passed last session was an acceptable pallia-, tive. Tho chairman, Mr. R. E. Williams, emphasised tho fact that tho association had taken Sir] Joseph's Ward's promise in {,ood faith, and had later been instrumental in computing an increased scale of salaries on the understanding that the bonus would be paid The result was that now P. and T. officers were relatively badly paid in comparison with the other Government Deoartments, and tho cost of living was going up each day by leaps and bounds. Their association advocated that each officer should retire on the completion of fortv years' service. Thus would be. given an impetus to the promotion of iunior officers, and the present stagnation would be done away with. At Carterton there was a staff of eighteen, over whom was placed one senior officer, who was resoonsible for both day and night shifts. Yet ho did not receive a salary commensurate with his executive _ duties. The same state 'of affairs existed in many other places .besides Carterton, and tho association considered that executivo work should be paid for at the executive rates. There was 100 great a disparity existing between th salary of the Secretary of the Post Office, who controlled four gigantic Departments—telegraph, telephone, postal, and savings—and the salary of the General Manager of Railways. While the former received but £1100 per annum, the latter was in receipt of ,£3OOO. They had to remember that the Secretary's salary had a direct relation to th« salaries of the other officers. The speaker went on to pay a tribute to their guest, Mr. G. R. Sykes, M.P In a division in the House Mr. Svkes had always taken tho side of the association. . Mr. Reynolds, senior vice-president of tho association, said ho regretted that be rould hold out no hope that Cabinet would recommend the payment ot the bonus, though there was absolutely no doubt that Sir Joseph Ward had riven the promise. It must be conceded, however, that the appropriation clause, put t.hrougb last session was a bip step in their favour. He thought the increases under the clause were subject to reservations. Salaries as a whole were on a much belter basis than twelve months ago. Ho thought the appropriation clause was going to be infinitely better for tho service than ihe- bonus would have been, becauso tho increases under the former would bo permanont. They wanted more, but a bird in tho hand was worth two in tho bush. Referring to the impending vntirement ot the Chief Secretary, Mr. Reynolds said their was no doubt at all that Mr. Morris had been a loyal friend to the association, of which ho was an enthusiastic member. It was to bo hoped that the Cluet Secretary's retirement would be marked by a bumper sond-oli, worthy of his services. Mr. Patterson, n member of the association executive, said that it must hi recognised that great benefits had been conferred by the Government in the passing of the P. and T. Officers Act of lillS: The epidemic had militated igainst the Act being carried into full operation. With the continually increasing cost of living it would appear that the association must soon change its policy which lay at present in obtaining increases in wages. But increased wages was no solution of tho cost of living prcblem. He thought that if tho Government had the power to commandeer every man in the State for the defence of the State it must nlso ha.ve the power to regulate the produce markets of the State, and thereby stop tho tromendous increases that were taking place. _ Tho association, therefore should uso its influence in bringing about this control by Ihe State.

Mr. G. fi. Rykcs. M.P., who >vas received with tumultuous applause, said that so far as his information -cent Sir .Tu=eph Ward hid made the promise of a bonus, and Parliament wa<(, therefore, morally bound to honour the pledge. A--in the' past he would always be one of those who would support the payment of the bonus, lie had on?o been in the I'ost Office employ himself, naturally ivas sympathetic, with their aims. He was convinced that (lie only real solution of the cost of livinj,' problem was increased production combined with folfsacrifico.