P. AND T. GRIEVANCES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3477, 4 May 1920, Page 5

P. AND T. GRIEVANCES.

CAVALIER TREATMENT.

DUNEDIN, May 3.

A-n ex.traor(linary meeting of ‘the

,’& local branch of the Post and Telegraph ‘ Association was held,’ last evening to fivconsider -thenegotiations pending beI tween the Post and Telegraph Association and-ithe Prime Minister and Post-. master—Genera.l. The meeting was well attended -by. representativeswof every branch of ;the Department. - The following re'solution:.=. were carried by an overwhelming major-i‘~.‘y:—— “T_}lat this meeting records its resentment at the refusal hitherto of the Prime Minister "and Postln;3.ster-Gen-eral to meet! the execrutiv'e'c'o‘mmit.tee of the Association in a diseussion upon the grievances of the service. It eontrasts this cavalier indiiference with the courteous bearing and considera-

tion of the former political heads of the Department. This branch also en- ) dorses the action of the executiv.e_:committee in insisting on an increase of 62 per cent. upon the basic wage of 1914. It also approves of the suggestion to immediately call together the executive council should the projected inter- M view with the Prime Minister prove abortive. The branch also desires to record its sympathy with the railwaymen in their struggle for better living conditions, and pledges itself to loyally_ support its own executive council in whatever course their judgnientleads t them to follow.” ' It was also unanimously decided to demand the immediate payment of the war bonus as promised by Sir Joseph fir Ward. ’ ‘ A discussion took place upon" the agitation for the payment of half civil _ pay to officers of the Department who served at the front. The following resolution was unanimously adopted: “That the executive be urged to use fresh eiforts to obtain half-pay for all members who were absent with the Expeditionary Force. It compares unfavourably the action of the Government in refusing half—pay to all but a few, with that of the Home Government, whieh placed all Post and Tele-‘ graph employees on full pay. It con-l siders a gross injustice has been done;

to those men who enlisted in other i’/Eunits, in_refusing to put them on the .’ same foo 'ng as gthosc selected for postal 033...5ig~na1 branches. ‘of the Forces.” r ' .

PROTEST ~FROM VVHA NGAREI.

VVHANGAREI. May ~3‘

Resolutions passed by a ]a.fgg enfimgiastic meeting of the P. and T. Assimiation in Whangarei. embraced an em?‘ jphatie protest vagainst the m'é'fhods of The Premier aixii Postmaster-Gmier’a] 2 in avoicling 2 'nrnlfn"sefl moaffng the

executive, and insisting that such be hela forthwith, it being deemed absoTutely essential that Salaries be augmented by a full 2 per cent to meet the extra cdst of living. It, was resolved to demaxfd payment of the war bonus as from Sejitetnber, 1918, and that immigration ’be stopped until the Government finds adequate funds to remunerate its employeoS- Sympathy was expressed for the I'ailWaymen’s policy, amlpromise given of who‘.~ehearted support.

INCREASE DEMANDED BY TAIHAPE BRANCH.

A representative meeting of the Taifiape members of the NZ. P. and T‘. Association was held last evening. The following motions were carried una-ninlously:—- 5

(1) This representative meeting of the Taihaue menfloers of the P. and T. Association pledge themselves to sup'port the Dominion executive in demahding 62 per cent increase on basic Wage of 191-1, and will support them in any action they may deem necessary ,to take in procuring sa.me. (2) That the executive be asked to demand a direct answer regarding the Chief Judge ’s decision re payment of the war ‘bonus as promised by Sir J. G. Ward.