POST AND TELEGRAPH EMPLOYEES.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1927, Page 1

POST AND TELEGRAPH EMPLOYEES.

THE QUESTION OF SALARIES. (Bv Telegraph—Per Press Association.) PALALKItSTON •Tune, 20. ’i'lie wages of Post and Telegraph employees and business methods ol the Post and Telegraph Department were criticised by Air H. H. Brown, employees’ organiser, when responding lo a toast at the reunion of the Alauawatu section of the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association on Saturday night.

Air Brown quoted figures, to show that since 191-1 the average increase of Post and Telegraph employees’ salaries had been 2J.J per cent, while wages of employees outside the service, which were fixed by the Arbitration Court had increased on an average 5(>.5 per cent. There was not a shadow of doubt, added Air Brown, that if the Government could provide a tribunal io assess the wages of certain workers it should he their duty to pay men in their employ wages equivalent to those granted by the Arbitration Court. The speaker contended that penny postage meant a loss to the country of £125,000 annually, and that there also was a serious loss of revenue in Press telegrams. Sir James Parr, when Post-master-Genera!. had indicated that as soon ns the Department showed a profit that would he the time to approach the Government for increases, yet under the present policy of the Department there never would he such a time. Earlier in the evening Air J. A. Nash, AI.P.. talking of the wages question, suggested setting up a hoard to overhaul the whole position of the State and tin' wages of it- employees. Air Brown agreed that the .suggestion was a good one and thought the employees should ask for the hoard. He also spoke on the subject of promotion. which he claimed under the present system was unduly retarded.'thus stifling the ambitions of employees.