"RIDICULOUS NONSENSE"

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 104, 4 May 1929, Page 22

"RIDICULOUS NONSENSE"

RUMOURS OF A STRIKE. TRAMWAYMEN'S CONDITIONS SINISTER SUGGESTION REFUTED. RETRENCHMENT TO BE DISCUSSED. A rumotjr that there is a possibility of Auckland tramwaymen being involved in a strike is authoritatively denied. It had been suggested in certain quarters that a strike" might be undertaken as a protest against a pronouncement of the chairman of the Auckland Transport Board (Mr. J. A. C. Alluni), that effieiencv in the service was to be the paiamount consideration when the matter of retrenchment was under review, and that the established system of appointment and relegation by seniority was to be abolished.

While mass meetings of the tramwaymen will be held at the Trades Hall on Thursday next, it is denied by their representatives that there is anything in the suggestion concerning a strike. When questioned this morning, Mr. J. 0. Liudell, secretary of the- Tramwaymen's Union, said that the suggestion was ridiculous. General meetings would, however, be held at 10 a.m. and S p.m. on Thursday to discuss, among other matters, the attitude of -ilie tramways management with regard to retrenchment, particularly as it applies to seniority. The two meetings will be held so as to cover all branches of the union, and enable men on all shifts to be in attendance. In view of the importance of the discussions it i s anticipated that there will be a large muster of members.

Mr. Liddell further explained that the Transport Board had agreed to meet union representatives on Tuesday next for the purpose' of discussing the new agreement which is to be submitted by the union. Messrs. P. Carr (president), J. 0. Liddell, F. E: Martin. J. T. Jennings and E. O'Neill Avill be among those to represent the union. "Ridiculous nonsense," said Mr. A. E. Ford, manager of the Auckland Transport Board, when interviewed on the subject. Mr. Ford added there had been very few changes in the personnel of the tramways staff during the last year, and that the men formerly employed by Tramways Committee of the City Council, who are now under the Transport Board, were as efficient and as contented as ever. 'T cannot understand it," said Mr. Ford. "It is difficult to imagine where such rumours spring from."

Another official of the Transport Board gave a direct denial to the suggestion that ability to play Soccer football gave any advantage to an employee, or a prospective employee. "This suggestion las been made before," he said, "but there is absolutely no foundation for it."