POSTAL OFFICIALS AND WAR SERVICE.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1920, Page 4

POSTAL OFFICIALS AND WAR SERVICE.

QUESTION OF HALF-PAY

AUCKLAND, June 4

The unrest in the Post and Telegraph Department was the subject of some remarks by; the Postmaster-General (the Hon. J. G. Coates) to-day. He said that the officials claims would be dealt ■with as soon as consideration of tlie railwaymen’s case had been concluded. Referring more particularly to the demand by many members of the Post and Telegraph service who went to the war as active combatants to be placed on an equal footing with others who joined the postal and signalling corps, and in consequence received half civilian pay. Tt was. a very unfair thing to nlake this difference and obviously tlie grant of half pay to one section of the service and not to the other should not have been made. It was done, and there was an end of it. “So far as I am concerned,” added Mr Coates, “I would be pleased, if I could place all the men on an equal footing, but the Government has considered the matter on several occasions, and the position is that we cannot. make tlie concession*. 'Personally I would certainly like to see those men who fought in tlie ranks get half their civil pay, because I think they deserve it more than men who went away with the postal corps, that is, having regard to the difference in their duties, I say this •as a matter of principle, not that I agree with the granting of civil pay in the first instance.”