P. AND T. OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 281, 22 August 1921, Page 5

P. AND T. OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION

AND THE ALLIANCE OF LABOUR. A report of the proceedings at the quarterly executive meeting of the New Zealand Bost and Telegraph Officers’ Association was given’ to a meeting of the Wellington body by Air. Al. AV. Cummings. The executive, said Air. Cummings, had considered the question of joining the Alliance of Labour, and the preeideM of the alliance had addressed the executive, as also had three members of the Railway Officers’ Institute, who spoke against the proposal. Air. Cummings said his own opinion was that the P. and T. Association would do well to keep within its own borders, and the less it had to do with the Alliance of Labour the better. The whole question would have to be considered at the next conference of the association. The Railway Officers’ Institute was desirous of resuscitating the Grand Council, and wished the P. and T. Association to join the council if it should be revived. The executive would be prepared, of course, to discuss the matter with them; but, for his part, he did not think much would come of it. They had been asked, also, to join the Public Service Association. But ho thought that also was a ’‘dead end,” unless the Public Service Association would unite with tho Railway Officers’ Institute to revive the Grand Council. 'I he P. and T. Association, ho held, should work for tho tribunal under tho Labour Disputes Act, which they .had asked the Prime Minister for before he went Home. The Prime Alinister had seemed favourable to the suggestion; and if he would grant them a tribunal on tho same lines as the railwaymen’s tribunal, he thought that that would be far better than joining tho Alliance of Labour. Tho executive decided to ask conference to press tho matter. , . .1 Air. R. Cooper maintained that the association should link up with the Grand Council. They were going to have to face reduction or retrenchment, and it they were not prepared to meet tho position they would go under. If they were linked up with railwaymen and other public servants their position would bo much stronger. ' After Air. Cummings had answered questions, tho matter dropped.