PUBLIC SERVICE.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1922, Page 1

PUBLIC SERVICE.

A PETITION.

[BY TELEGRAPH —-PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, June 8. A petition praying for the Government to take action to prohibit alliance with any body outside of the Btiblic Service of New Zealand was circulated throughout the Post and Telegraph Offices of the Dominion to-day: Mr H. E. Combs, secretary of the B- and T. Association, said that ho believed the petition was being circulated with knowledge and probably tho approval of the department. At any rate, certain officers in the Wellington office were detached from ordinary duties to-day to take the petition round to the members of both the inside and outdoor staffs. p r om what ho had heard lie judged the feeling abroad was that officci s lcfusing to sign the petition would become marked men. WELLINGTON, June 8. Tlie following is a copy of the petition which it is understood was circulated in all the Post and Telegraph offices throughout the Dominion to-day:—“To the Speaker of the House of Representatives —This petition of officers of the l‘o-» and Telegraph Department of New Zealand humbly showeth that whereas the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association decided on tho Itli of April, 1922 bv ballot amongst its officers, that this association should affiliate with the Alliance of Labour, and whereas <this decision to affiliate docs not represent the opinion of a majority of the employees of the Post and Telegraph Department humbly pi ay the Government will take action to prohibit such alliance with any body outside the public service of New Zealand.”

A slip is attached to each copy of the petition, showing certain statistics in collection with the staff of tho department and the voting in tho rerent ballot is given. The slip shows the total staff (both permanent and casual) as being 8818, and the number who voted for joining the Alliance as 4379, while those who voted against alliance, and those who did not vote are given as 4461).

Speaking to a Press representative to-dav on the subject, Mr H. E. Combs, secretary of the Post and Telegraph Association, stated that lie had heard that a petition was in circulation, and ho believed it was being circulated with the knowledge and probably with the approval of the department itself. At any rate, certain officers, in the Wellington ‘office were detached from their ordinary duties to-day -to take this - petition round to the members, both of tho inside, and the outdoor staffs.

From what he hail heard, lift' Conibs judged that a feeling was abroad that any officers refusing 'to sign this petition would become marked men. Mr Combs maintained that a petition such as this should he allowed to circulate slowly, so that each person concerned could exercise the rights of a free conscience before deciding to sign or otherwise.