OFFICERS AND DEPARTMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1921, Page 7

OFFICERS AND DEPARTMENT.

(POSSIBILITIES OF RUPTURE IN 1 RELATIONS. CIVIL SERVANTS FEDERATING. At the Post and Telegraph officers’ reunion at New Plymouth on Monday evening, interesting statements of the position of P. and T. officers in relation to the Department were given by Mr. H. E. Coombes (organising secretary of the P. and T. Association), and Mr. H. H. Brown (of Wanganui, vicepresident of the P. and T. Association). The subject was broached iby the chairman (Mr. J. Gillick), in proposing the toast of “The Post and Telegraph Department.” , He expressed his appreciation of the deep interest taken in the association by every officer of the association, which to-day was a very powerful and influential organisation, and that its work was appreciated was shown by the fact that of 8000 officers practically every one was a live member of the association. This reflected great credit on the work of the organisers and the general executive. Their aims and aspirations had been along conciliatory and had pot followed on arbitrary lines. The Association had adopted as its motto, “Moderation is the silken thread running through the pearl chain of all virtue/’ All grievances received careful consideration at the hands of the Dominion executive, and the political heads had generally recognised them as such, and endeavored to meet them as reasonably as possible. He stressed the necessity of the executive having the warm, enthusiastic and hearty co-operation of members at all times. The association stood to see that every member got fair play and justice, and strove to bring about better conditions and to ensure to each and all a service in which merit, and merit alone, should count. Practically, every concession .and privilege the P. and T. service enjoyed was the outcome of the energies and responsibilities of the executive, assisted by every officer of the association. They fully recognised the duty they owed to the public. Some of the improvements the association had brought about were salary increments, cost of living bonus, etc. He urged all to study the official paper, “The Katipo,” and stressed the necessity for every member taking an active part in the working of the association. He desired to place on record his appreciation of the work of Messrs. Coom-bes and Brown in their recent interview with the heads of the Department. Throughout the length and breadth of. the Dominion the executive and secretary would carry the lasting gratitude, esteem and respect of every member. ALTERED CONDITIONS. Mr. Coombes, who was greeted with applause, first touched on the altered conditions whereby their affairs were controlled by an executive elected from all over New Zealand, which took the place of the Wellington committee, who, however, were still prepared to give valuable advice and help. They were forced to realise. that their association was, like others, travelling through troublous times, and it was their object and aim to see that while conditions altered they maintained a standard that would enable members, to earn a decent livelihood for themselves and their dependents, and also make the conditions such that any man with self-respect could say, “That, was his job, and he was proud it was his job.”

The financial changes during the past twelve months had had thejr effect, and those who had been behind the present Government when it was put in power were now asking the Government to “deliver the goods” they were put in to deliver. ’Everything had been going along swimmingly during the past few years, and those behind the Government had been taking toll with both hands. Now they were asked to pay out, some with both hands, and they did not like it, and were appealing to those in authority to put the screw on the men who were working on salary and wages, so that they might save as much as possible. It was the duty of the executive, therefore, to see that the screw was not put on the service to any extent. Their standard of living must be maintained, and must be based on what was sufficient to enable their dependents to. carry on from pay-day to pay-day, based on the figures supplied by the Government Statistician. This was conceded by the Government twelve months ago, when the railway service was given a bonus of 10 per cent, on the basic wage, with a consequent adjustment for those above and below that amount. They had gone to the Prime Minister and obtained a promise of the same concession, -but, after approaching the Premier on several occasions, had received the reply that the matter would be considered when the Government Statistician’s next return was brought down. The uniformity committee had also stated that in their opinion the time had come when the salaries of the public service should be adjusted, but at the same time the ejjiecutive was’ informed that the uniformity committee had taken part in an unofficial conference, and had dealt solely with the question of retrenchment or the reduction of salaries throughout the whole Dominion. In consequence, the confidence of the executive was shattered, and they took upon themselves to force an interview with Mr. Massey, which took place in April. So far from the Government acknowledging they had given a promise in June, and stating as man to man that they were not able to keep it, they had absolutely repudiated it. All -would, therefore, see that there were very difficult times ahead, and one did not know from day to day what responsibilities the executive would have to assume to safeguard the interests of its members. Members, therefore, should be alive to the situation, so that the executive could meet the heads with the confidence that the whole of the service was behind them. Those who had followed the negotiations would realise that the executive was doing all it could to gain the attention of the Government and obtain redress for their grievances during the last few months' without kicking over the traces. THE ECONOMY PLb’A. The Government, he continued, was acting on the plea that strict .economy was necessary, but some of the things that were done during the last few weeks were not strictly economical, and in this he instanced the new rule that said every officer must work seven hours every day. It was quite within the rights of the Department to impose a seven-hour day, provided they gave a reasonable spell for meals and provided that the seven hours should he worked in daylight. With only ten minutes given for meals, it would he an unduly Jontr strain on the individual, and the Depart ment might have to grant siek leave on 4ull pay if the officer broke d.own, They

had asked the Department to give relief, but so far had had no reply. He touched at some length on their efforts to obtain the right of appeal before an independent court in the matter of salary or promotion. This had -been granted in 1919. When the last classification list was brought out 18 months ago, 230 officers appealed because they felt they were not so well treated as they expected to be, or other officers were placed above them, but the, Department held they could not appeal on those grounds. They had to go to the Supreme Court, but when that decided in their favor the Government almost immediately altered the regulation making it impossible to have a grievance investigated under that head. This upset the system as far as progression by merit was concerned, and went back to the old system of the promotion by seniority. After considerable difficulty the Department agreed to give back the classification by merit, subject, however, to conditions which they could not accept. NEW SALARIES SCHEDULE. The Department also issued a new schedule of salaries in the general division, under which a telegraph messenger promoted to be a postmaster had to spend seven years’ training period on a small salary, whereas previously he had only had to spend five. If the work was of such a nature that it took seven years to train a postman then the postman’s calling must be far ahead of the average calling outside the Department, and should be paid accordingly. It was unfair that a lad should join the service at 14 years and at the age of 23 years receive a salary of £4 a week, when, if he had joined the Railway Department, he would have received £4 10s a week on becoming 21 years of age. The conditions of the service were being disrupted very seriously, and perhaps very deliberately. Whether this was so or not, one was forced to the conclusion that they could no longer stand alone, and they should see to it that they strengthened themselves by linking up with other Government services, with the object of securing for every man a salary that \Vould enable him to marry and help his dependents in reasonable comfort. The executive had accordinglytaken a vote of ; its members on the question of joining up with the railway organisations, and this had been carried by a majority of 4to 1. Within a week or so the executive intended to apply to the railway service, and if it agreed, members would be asked to endorse the alliance. As a unit they would have to be loyal if the alliance were put into action, but he could promise them that nothing would be done in the dark, nor'would members be bound by anything that would be disclosed at a time they were not able to judge calmly.

Touching on the attitude of the Department towards the association, he said that though relations were not ruptured they were deadly strained, as it was foynd impossible to comply with the conditions laid down by the department when trying to come to an agreement, as the Department had practically asked the service to sell its soul. They were asked not to criticise the actions of any official, nor to publish in the Katipo the opinion of members unless agreeable to the Department; nor to carry their troubles outside. In other words, after they had exhausted every means of coming to an agreement with the Department they -were asked to desert the friends who had stood by them. Immediately they turned this down they expected that concessions regarding the collection of subs by the Department, free postage of the Katipo and correspondence would be cut off, and this proved to be the case, although the association had asked the Government to give an estimate of the cost, which, recognising the necessity for the step on the score of economy, the association was prepared to pay/ However, this little disorganisation had been overcome. He stressed the point that the organisation was gathered to look after the interests of each individual member, and it was the duty of every member to see that it was strong enough to shoulder the responsibility without any fear of a break down. NO ANTAGONISM. In conclusion, he pointed out that the association was a real live institution, and the best it could do for them was the best that was in themselves. If they had the spirit of unionism deeply inset they could assist to a marvellous extent, because the opportunity came every day of their lives. He asked them to use those opportunities because it was impossible to forecast what events would sweep down on them in the last few months. He. was, however, satisfied that the association would face them, and overcome them, as ably and capably as it had done during the past 30 years. (Applause.) Mr. IL, H. Brown (Dominion vicepresident) expressed pleasure at seeing so many ladies present, the ladies being equally as interested as the men. He did not know any branch of the service that had more loyal and honest workers than the P. and T. Department. Ho emphatically denied that any feeling of antagonism was engendered by the organisers. They had always met the of the Department in a manner which not only reflected credit on themselves, but enhanced the esteem in which they were held by their fellow members. If there was any rupture between the association and the heads of the Department it had not come about through the instrumentality of the associaion, ‘which had always approached them in a conciliatory spirit, and on constitutional grounds, The Department, 1 had laid down a rule that the organisation had no right to appear when any member made an appeal against the allocation of his salary. This he considered an unjust and unreasonable attitude to take up, Outside the Department an employee could go to the Arbitration. This was called “God’s Own Country,” but he did riot believe it could be “God’s Own Country” until every individual in the country got what God intended him to have. Every one. had ideals, and perhaps these could never be attained until humanity shed itself of some of its attributes. Everyone, however, could strive to better the conditions of those about him. The executive were imbued with the idea? of helping the members, and he believed the time would come when the organisation would gain what it aimed at, and the service would be better, and the public eoujjl spe that public servants were iiot the “Red Feds” they were discredited with being, but were trying honestly to remedy the evils under which they believed themselves to-be suffering. He read a letter from the Wanganui branch ef the A.S.R.S. congratulating the association on deciding to link up with them. In concluding, he expressed the hope that the tiin« would never come when it would be necessary to take drastic action. They wanted to deal with the Department in a constitutional manner, and it was the duty of the Department to meet them and endeavor tq adjust

their grievances. The onus was on the Department, and if they were turned down would give them no alternative. If the Department set itself to meet them he felt they couil work in. harm ony, and do their dny towards their fallovt nt’pgs and the people lor whom they were working.