P. & T. OFFICERS’ CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1920, Page 3

P. & T. OFFICERS’ CONFERENCE.

(Per Press Association.) t

WELLINGTON, Juno 8.

A conference of thirty representatives of branches of the Post And Telegraph Officers Association met this morning under the Presidency of J. H. Mackenzie, (Hastings). The agenda paper includes a discussion on matters recently placed before the Prime Minister by the P. and T. deputation, to which no reply has'yet been received, mand. for increase ior basic wage to bring it up to spending value of 1914; (2) Outstanding war boAus promised by Sir Joseph Ward. /■ , The annual report shows the membership totals 6,750. Tile balance sheet discloses receipts £4,215, and expenditure £2,871. Discussing the cost of living the report states the continued rise in the' cost of living lias been a regrettable incident of the year, Profits are still being piled on profits, with no check or hindrance worthy of the name, so far as the consumer is concerned. Jn coinmop with all fixed salaried people, the' decreased use of a pound sterling hit membership hard, and more than one. had stirred them; to a high pitch of resentment.

The annoucenient of the “'cost of living” bonus did not ease the tension because almost coupled with it came the announcement that the cost of living in twelve, months had risen from 27 per cent - , to 62 per cent. To .ask married men to accept one shilling and single officers sixpence per da3' as adequately bringing salaries up was ridiculous, but when one takes into account the general belief that it the Board of Trade bad announced an increase of one hundred per cent it would have been nearer the mark,' one can only wonder at the patience and forbearance- shown in discussing constitutional versus unconstitutional means for remedying griov-

anceS; & The report states that faith oil constitutional means has been badly shaken. “One has, only to repiepiber the history of industrial agitation recently to understand why tin; nnconstitnsont»l (so-cnlled) people, have almost invariably attained their object in a short space of time, while constitutional people have had to wait long and patiently for results. The position ought to he reversed and therefore members are ask., ed to eonsder whether the time has not arrived when the Government should he faced with the logic of the position and asked ,in pointed terms, ‘‘What is going to be done about it.”