POST AND TELEGRAPH OFFICERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1924, Page 4

POST AND TELEGRAPH OFFICERS.

WKI.I.IXOTON. S. pi. 'I he Postmaster- (,'eneral, the lion .1. (*. Coates, to-day made the lollmc ing statement : - "I have toad the reply published yesterday by I lie secretary of the Post and Tclc-gra|!i Ollieeis' A-socialiou to the definite charge that the aliened discontent among ollicers, and 1 desire to refer t i c.-ruin portions thereof. Mr ( .uuhs stales that he did lint wi.-.'i to measure the diseoutenl in the service, but added that lesoluliniis expressing ioitlideuee in the executive of the assoeialioii have been passed from one end ol the Dominion to the other.” To this I say such resolutions could jnsl as easily he engineered as was the one shout, the proposed reduction in laud and income tax. Mr Combs states that contentment is a comparative thing and professes tlucL because a few lads complied with his ‘urgent’ reeptest to protest to mouthers of Parliament ‘it certainly shows a measure- of discontent.' It dues, hut achy does .Mr Com Its not admit that it is artilicial discontent manufactured b.v bis message, to the- lines. ‘| want In most, .strongly urge you In enter a strong protest' ! Such tactics are in-; comprehensible when one realises that practically evony letter received is an exact copy id Mr Comb's draff. This ‘indicates that the lads were so young and inexperienced that they did not appreciate that thev eolild vary the protest if lhoy saw lit to bolster mi his alleged discontent. Mr Comb says tliaL resignations from the Department. ‘exceed fifty per month at present.' What are the fac ts 'r The- average. which is slightly less this year than in lice past two years, is .‘IS per month, of whom 12 are message hoys. II are juniors of 17 and IS years ol age- ami !) are women, who resigned to marry, leaving a halance of six a month out of a staff of !)')(!. to support Ml* C'inih's contention tlint the service is resigning because it is discontented. Mr. Combs denies •ilidlv’ that the resolutions are framed in Wellington, and then broadcasted to tin- carious *ccticins. Will Mr Combs publish in lllldaily press his circular to ‘section secretaries’ calling on them to hold an urgent meeting and pass resolutions cd protest against the- proposed land and income- tax concessions, or will he deny that such a circular memorandum was issued by him S'"