SECRET BALLOT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 164, 13 July 1929, Page 10

SECRET BALLOT.

AUCKLAND TRAMWAYMEN.

OLD COMMITTEE RE-ELECTED.

DEFINITE ANSWER TO BOARD.

While certain members of the Auckland Transport Board may hold the view that Auckland's tramwaymen are "badly led," the men themselves apparently do not think so. Evidence of this fact waa' given yesterday, when, ill a secret ballot, the tramway employees returned the large majority of the committee that has been guiding their destinies during the past twelve months.

| The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows —President, Mr. P. Carr; vice-president, Mr. F. E. Martin; treasurer, Mr. W. C. Wills; secretary, Mr. J. Liddell; committee —traffic, Messrs. H. Bruce and S. Ardern; Gaunt Street traffic, Messrs. F. Ornstien, J. Jennings and T. Moore; Epsom depot, Mr. F. Anderson; Gaunt Street depot, Mr. M. McAlister; Gaunt Street bus depot, Mr. C. Garrett;- workshops, Mr. J. Boyd; trackmen, Mr. H. Ludgate; overhead department, Mr. E. Ashford; Gaunt Street garage, Mr. Staladi.

The men regard' the result of the ballot as a definite answer to the suggestion thrown out at the last meeting of the- Transport Board that they were "badly led away" in their stand in

regard to- the demand made upon them to expunge a minute censuring certain members for giving evidence in support of the management in a recent appeal case.

The board maintains that any union member should be entitled to give evidence in accordance with the dictates of his conscience, whereas the union is firm in its opinion that the board should not meddle with its domestic affairs. Suggested Arbitration. Much, correspondence lias passed between the board and the union on the subject, and at Tuesday last's meeting of the board it was decided that a deadlock had arisen, and a resolution was carried suggesting that the matter be referred to the arbitration of Mr. Justice Blair, who is acting as president of the Arbitration Court in the ansence of Mr. Justice Frazer in Australia. It was thought that wise counsel would arrive, at a settlement of the trouble.

The union is at present considering the whole question of the claim made upon it to expunge the complained-of minute, which was posted in various tram depots in the efty and subsequently removed in. compliance with a request from the tramways manager (Mr. A. E. Ford). No decision has yet been arrived at, but developments are expected at a general meeting of the union, wliieh will be held in the immediate future.

It is not known what the attitude- ot the men will be towards the suggestion to submit the dispute to arbitration, but meetings at which aIL shifts will be represented will decide the very moot point. The result of the secret ballot, however, assured the new committee of the fact that the. men are behind their attitude towards the Transport Board so far as the dispute has proceeded.

Donation to Earthquake Fund. At a general meeting of the union held on Thursday last, it was decided to donate £11)0 from the fund-, to the earthquake relief fund. The amount will be forwarded to the leader of tiie Labour party (Mr. H. E. Holland) for distribution. Tie tramwaymen are taking up a subscription for further donations, and it is expected that the donation will be considerably augmented as a result.