TRAMWAY CONCILIATION BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 168, 15 July 1908, Page 5

TRAMWAY CONCILIATION BOARD.

EVIDENCE FOR THE COMPANY. YESTERDAY. The sittings of the special Conciliation Board to inquire into the Tramway dispute were continued yesterdtay afternoon. The Board comprises Dr. McArthur (president), Messrs. P. M. Hansen, Morris (for the Company), Carter and Sherry (for the Union). ' \ . Mr. A. Rosser appeared for the Union, and the Company was represented by Mr. Walklate. Frederick Reuss, a motorman in i the Company's, service, said lie .had been employed nearly four years. On the day of the strike, at 12 o'clock, he was not working. In the afternoon he turned up at ttye Epsom depot, and was told that there was a strike on. He left tlie depot at 5 o'clock. The following dfeiy witness was busy cleaning, out the office, when the men kicked-"up a row about his working. He was satisfied with the treatment he received from the inspectors and officials, and had no cause to complain. To Mr. Ro3ser: On the occasion of the first strike witness kept his car running. Mr. Rosser: So practically you went back on the men? Witness: I did my duty to my employers. You thought you were justified in sticking to the Company?— Yes, I saw no reason for the strike. I would not go on. strike if I thought it was not justified. , Continuing, the witness said that on the occasion of the last strike he would have continued' work had any cors been running. Robert Spry, a motorman in the service of the Company, said he had worked for the Company for 5J years. He arrived in. town on the.day of the strike, and was asked by Mr. Rosser and one or two others to join in the strike. Witness refused, as he saw no reason for the strike. He had never had any reason to complain of his treatment by the inspectors. He had formerly worked for the Melbourne tramways, and remembered the ISBB strike. He did not join in that strike, as he considered it entirely unjustifiable. Ralph Turner, an inspector in the Company's employ, said he had on several occasions checked time tables, but had always taken his stand in the road. He had never been given any instructions to specially watch men who were leaving the service. Herbert James Baker, a clerk in the Company's employ at the Ponsonby depot, said he had been in the Company's service for three years, first as conductor and I later as clerk. He had no complaints against the inspectors. William Thomas Rowc, an inspector in the Company's service, said he had worked l for the Company for 5 years. He had worked as conductor, motorman, and then inspector. The men had a system of signals notifying the whereabouts of inspectors. TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. When the Court resumed this morning, Mr. Kosser asked permission to call a witness to substantiate some remarks of his (Mr. Rosser's) concerning certain charges against Mr. Morris. This was granted, and Benjamin Gay, formerly a conductor on the spare list, in the employ of the Company, entered the box, and said that on a. certain Sunday he was booked! to take a Kingsland run. He was asked to take up a Remuera run in place of a man who was sick. Witness received his way bill and tickets, when another conductor arrived, and Mr. Morris gave the latter the Remuera run, telling witness he would have to take the Heme Bay run. Witness told Mr. Morris he did not think it was fair, and Mr. Morris then said to witness: "All I can see is that you are refusing duty, and I don't think you will be required at the barn any more." On one occasion witness had l a single run to Onehunga, and had a 5/ shortage which was more than, he earned. He subsequently found he was booked up with 50 Id. tickets which he never had. To Mr. Morris: Witness was not signed on for the Remuera run, but was given it and told to get his block. Witness considered he was dismissed when Mr. Morris told him he wouldl not be required any more at the barn. Witness had some trouble with Inspector Griffiths, The latter struck him, and witness struck back. To Mr. Walklate: It was not- a fact that he left; he considered he had been discharged. Mr. Rosser said that a number of employees of the Company, and members of the union, had been instructed by Mr. Morris to be present at Court without subpoenas. He asked when some finality with regard to the principal witnesses would be reachedl Mr. Morris explained that through some error, unsigned suboeuas had been sent out, but all the witnesses now had duly signed subpoenas. Further evidence in support of the case for the Company was then called. INSPECTOR TICKLE EXAMINED. Edwin Tickle, a ticket inspector in the Company's service, said he had worked for the Company for five years, eighteen months as" conductor, three years as motorman, and seven months as inspector. Witness had never received instructions to check time-tables unobserved. He had never been instructed to pay particular attention to men leaving the service. He did not notify men that he was reporting them, except in rare cases. There was a system of signalling amongst the men, and witness, to' circumvent that, had gone from one part of the town to another across country. He denied hiding to catch cars. He had taken shelter when it was very wet in the doorway of a house in England-street. He denied turning in his coat to hide the buttons. His coat was too small across the chest, and he would wrap it closely round him. He was not one of the "hatless brigade," but did sometimes take his hat off< He did not make a practice of dodging round telegraph poles. He did not expose himself more than was necessary, and did not step out into roads until a car was coming along. He never harassed the men, nor received any special instructions from Mr Lysaght as to the methods he should adopt. To Mr Rosser: He had never been told off to check the arrival and departure of cars at termini. He knew tiicre was a system of signalling, and had used it himself as a conductor. Hi dropped it after the first few months, because he did not consider it worth tho trouble. He took up his stand wherever it was convenient. He had read Conan Doyle's book, and considered Sherlock Holmes a fine character. Witnes was on afternoon shift at the time of the 190G strike. Witness left his car. Mr Rosser: Do you regret having done so?— Haven't thought about it. Do you now think you did right?—l an not thinking about it.

Dγ Mc Arthur intimated to Mr Rosser that he was overstepping the bounds. Mr Rosser proceeded to put a, number of questions to - the witness, and, not getting exactly the replies he wanted, said, ■"I ■ wish- you-would just answer my questions—'Yes,' or 'No.' Witness: I can't answer your questions "Yes" or "No." Mr Rosser (soliloquising); He assumes a density of intellect ■which he doesn't possess. Dr McArthur: Well, we're not all blessed, with the same intellect. (Laughter.) Mr Rosser: He's the densest witness I ever had anything to do with. Dγ McArthur: Well, Jie's been at it a long time, aud so have you. We'd better take a spell until 2 o'clock. . The Board then adjourned until this afternoon. Peter McElwain, an inspector in the Company's service, deposed that a report (produced) concerning an incident that occurred on Conductor Herdson's car was correct. The incident related was that two girls were in the ear, and had no tickets, when Herdson came up, called him a "dirty crawling liar," and said he would settle him for sending in a "dirty stinking report." To Mr Rosser: Witness was satisfied with Mr Lysaght as regards certain things. Witness was dissatisfied with Mr Lysaght for putting a man over him (witness), but was now satisfied with the explanation given. ■ Witness was not present at a meeting of inspectors three years ago. Mr Rosser: Was it not that you were afraid of "doing your job in" if you went to that meeting?— Well, I felt something like that; but that was not the reason. (Proceeding.)