POLITICAL CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 140, 10 December 1929, Page 13

POLITICAL CONTROL

P. AND T. SERVICE

OPPOSITION EXPRESSED

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. Addressing a largely attended meeting of P. and T. employees last night, J. H. M'Kenzie, general secretary of tho P.-and T. Employees' Association, said that it was proposed to ask the Government to place the Service under a system of arbitration in order to remove it from the present political control. In his opinion the Service would never get far under political and partisan control.

Questioned as to the association's compulsory retirement aftor forty years' service, Mr. M'Kenzie was most emphatic on that point. He said that he had already protested to the Post-niaster-General and the secretary of the Department in regard to the recent case of an officer with over forty years' service being retained. So far no satisfactory reasons for his retention had been presented. The case was causing much concern amongst the senior officers. Retired officers were also wanting to know why they had been forced out of the Service.

A reversion to the policy of recent years was unanimously endorsed by the meeting. Mr. M'Kenzie said that the association's efforts were directed to obtain improved salary conditions for the lower-paid officers. It was fighting strenuously for tho minimum wage of approximately £4 per week upon attaining the age of 21 years. The institution of a special class for certain qualified officers' was undoubtedly a sop to alienate support of the association's demands for a general reclassification.