WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1922, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

POST AND TELEGRAPH OFFICERS

JOIN ALLIANCE OF LABOUR

SPECIAL Td GUARDIAN

WELLINGTON, April 5.

The one subject of discussion and speculation in the city to-day is the result of the ballot of the Post and Telegraph officers on the question of affiliating with the Alliance cf Labour. Bv an overwhelming majority, by 4,379 votes to 1,973, they have decided to brow in their lot with the Labour organisation, the One Big Union, as it is popularly known, and the whole community is wondering what is going to happen next. The Postmaster General and his colleagues, the newspapers and a number of local organisations had urged every member of the Officers’ Association to record his vote, in the belief, apparently, that a majority of the members were opposed to Labour entanglements and t-'-at safety lay in iiuiiibers. But the issue has shown this view to have been entirely incorrect. Of the 7,317 ballot papers distributed, (1,390 were relumed and these gave for affiliation a majority of 9,100 or 568 in excess of the required three-lift Its majority. T ! esl figu es leave no doubt about the direction in which the weight of opinion among dir employees of the Department lies. THE PESSIMISTIC VTEW.

The “Dominion,” which has strenuously opposed the affiliation proposal, this morning expresses the pessimistic view of the situation. “This means,” it says, after mentioning the result o' the ballot, “that officers of this Department of the State who are outlasted with the confidence of the peopl generally in matters relating to toe transmission of all postal and telegraphic communication have thrown in their lot with the watersiders, the seamen, the miners and other militant Labour organisations, and have come under the way of the movement known a s the One Big Union. No longer will the publics be in a position to legard the Post and Telegraph Service as some thing aloof and independent of outside influence. It would be absurd to pretend that the absolute confidence in the traditionary secrecy of the service will be mainained where matte's affecting industrial interests are concerned.” This is the view ot the matter taken by large numbers of businvss people, ivlio see in the result ol th-. ballot a: disastrous blow to the general efficiency of the Department. NOT R EVOLUTI ON All Y.

A member of tile Officers’ Association, fairly hisj;li up in the Service, who took no part in the agitation for affiliation, but admits having recorded hi* vote with the majority, ridicules the idea that the Alliance of Labour is go ing to take charge of the Post and Telegraph Department and corrupt th morals of its officers. The Officers’ Association still will have absolute control of its own affairs and the ' undertaking of individuals to preserve secrecy and good faith will be as jealously observed as it always has been. W hat has influenced the majority in coming to a decision in regard to affiliation with the Alliance of Labour, this authority says, is the indifference of Ministers and the official heads to the iterated and reiterated complaints of members of the Service concerning grievances that could be easily removed without any great cost to the State and with considerable advantage to the public. Ti e Ministers had the excuse, such as it was, of ignorance, but the heads of Departments knew and matte uo effective use of their knowledge.

THE PUBLIC. While the business community looks with grave misgivings upon the association of the Public Service with militant Labour, the movement has many sympathisers among the general public. Wellington is peculiarly situated m this respect. In addition to some 15,000 or 20,000 Civil Servants residing within its borders there are thousands more of relatives and friends ready to resent reductions in salaries and restrictions in privileges. The capital city is rarely well disposed towards the Government of the day, and Mr Massey has managed to hold its goodwill longer and in a larger measure than have mos of his predecessors. But lessened salaries, arbitrary retirements and other drastic and highly necessary measures have had their inevitable effect and it is certain the Government is not in such hi«rh favour here as it was a year or two ago. This notwithstanding, a conflict with the militant section of the Civil Service just, now probably would help rather than hinder the Prune Minister at the general election. Responsible people, disposed to coquet with the middle party, would take no risk were the peril of an extreme Labour victory on the horizon.