POST AND TELEGRAPH

Hokitika Guardian, 10 April 1920, Page 1

POST AND TELEGRAPH

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Mr McCombs, Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Officers Association made an interesting statement in an answer to the Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Departmet in regard to the' growing discontent and dissatisfaction in the postal services. Air McCombs declares the official reply can only be characterised as a crude piece of side stepping. The facts are the men of the rank and file received an increase of £35, while senior officers leceived £sl. The basis of the new classification was to be a five year training period (beyond the messenger stage), and then a decent living wage. The salary scales which were to give effect to this basis were not fixed finally until six months after they had been determined upon and were certainly better in some particulars than those at first drafted but the scale of salaries was not nearly so important as its application to the individual. On this point the service had the greatest grievance. Telegraph messengers who are promoted to cadetships will, after five years receive £IBO. The Association considered the cadet who had already completed five years as such, should receive the same salary, which was quite reasonable but actually officers who had completed six and seven years service were placed on a salary of £165. The same thing happened in the general division, (postmen etc.) where men expecting £165 received only £l3O, w.tli a further year before getting £ro6. Little differentiation was made between the work of the senior and junior men in the same grade as the men receiving £165, work shift about with men getting £270, while postmen on £156 are interchangeable with men drawing £2OB.

The matter of grievances was discussed before the Appeal Board at Wanganui, and it was considered by tho Board that a ratification of such grievances was beyond the powers conferred on it by the Act, and the matter had to rest there for the time being, the department having declared the ‘average salary for 1914. 'Tire Public Service Commissioner’s annual report shows the increase is to be only 36 • .1■ Speaking of the officers Air Coombs said it was not right to tell the public that telegraph messengers merely join the department as a stepping' stone to ,other employment. Arany of them would he content to stay with the Department, if the messenger sen ice counted for anything, and the immediate future held out as bright prospects as other employment does.