“VERY SERIOUS MISTAKE”

Taranaki Daily News, 6 April 1922, Page 5

“VERY SERIOUS MISTAKE”

ATTITUDE OF THE P. AND T. THE PREMIER’S WARNING. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, April 5. Mr. Massey has made the following statement: “I think in its own interests a very serious mistake has been made by the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association in deciding to affiliate with the Alliance of Labor. What taken place will most certainly shake public confidence in the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association and in the Post and Telegraph Service.” Mr. Massey added: “So far as the Government is concerned we know there are a great many loyal and trustworthy members in the association and if trouble comes we shall be able to deal with it. One thing is quite certain. The Government will not tolerate interference with any Government department by an outside organisation, nor will they permit any violation of the secrecy of the Post and Telegraph Department which individual members of the service are pledged to maintain. It is possible some important movement is in contemplation and the time may come when those members who propose to join the Alliance of Labor may be called upon to choose whom they will serve, the Government or their proposed allies, and I am inclined to think that this is an aspect they have not sufficiently considered.” PROTEST BY EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATION. Timaru, Last Night. A meeting of the executive of the South Canterbury Employers’ Association passed a resolution: “That this association emphatically protests against the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association joining the Alliance of Labor, and calls upon Cabinet to prohibit same.”