P. AND T. OFFICERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 121, 24 April 1925, Page 5

P. AND T. OFFICERS.

NO PARTY POLITICS. By an overwhelming majority, a meeting of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association in Wellington last night affirmed the principle that the association should bo entirely dissociated from party politics. Mr Sissons moved that tho following resolution carried at the annual meeting bo rescinded: “That this section is of opinion that this association should be entirely dissociated either directly or indirectly from any political party, and that tho service journal should not be used in any manner for the purpose of political propaganda.”

While maintaining- that the association should take no part in politics and that the Katipo should not be used for political propaganda, Mr Sitsons at tho same time resented the attack made on the permanent secretary of the association by members at the last meeting of the association. “So far as I have observed,” he declared, “the Katipo has not given undue prominence to the Labour Party or to any other party. If only the Government would give members a free vote on vitaal questions, political discussion would die a natural death. It is tho Government that is at the root of the trouble which has arisen. Throughout the war, the association was loyal to the Government, but we got nothing in return, until we began to ‘raise Cain.’ ” Mr Herbert declared tliat the demand for “full political rights” wns nothing but the blatant cry of the political agitator. “I say,” he added, “that party politics arc an excrescence on the association, and should ho cut out as ruthlessly as a surgeon would cut out a malignant growth.” Mr McDowell urged that the association should stick to its own game and not dabble with affairs that did not concern it. Who would think of asking the association to identify itself with any particular religion, or, cay with prohibition ? “There can bo no doubt,” observed the speaker, “that our association has been definitely linked with tho Labour Party, and that is tending to disrupt the association.” Mr Falconer (the chairman) declared very emphatically that he was against rescinding the motion, for the only logical conclusion for people to draw wns that they favoured party politics. “And the moment we definitely identify ourselves with any political party.’’ he added, “we are sounding tho death-luiell of our organisation. It is going to mean dissension, disruption. and disunity.” Mr Perry declared that tho association should follow the parly which served its best interests. “And if you do not rescind this motion,” he added, “then you acquiesce in keeping in power a Government which has treated you as tho Reform Government has done during the past number of years.” The motion to rescind was defeated by a largo majority. THE ALLIANCE OF LABOUR. Mr Mullins moved: “That this section strongly recommends the conference to take action to rescind the resolution passed in favour of affiliation to the Alliance of Labour.” Mr Mullins declared that the ballot was taken on the question after a series of meetings in which only one side of 1 tho question was put and many of the members did not know what they wore doing. “Why didn’t they attend?” interjected somebody. Mr Simpson was of the opinion that to rescind the resolution would bo crawling j down to the Government and doing just what it wanted thorn to do. Ho moved as an amendment: “That as soon as the Government withdraws its embargo of affiliation U> the Alliance of Labour, the attitude of members of the association thereto be ascertained by a further postal ballot.” “I do not think,” ho declared, “that there wus any intention to join the Alliance of Labour, but we should not just lio down and do what the other side wants us to do.” Mr Berry declared that it was not a question of affiliation with the Alliance of Labour but of whether the Government had a right to prevent the organisation doing a perfectly legal tiling. “If you prefer to bo men,” he added, “you will say to the Government that you are not going to crawl down all tho way.” The amendment was carried by 105 votes to 94.