RACE CROWDS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 38, 15 February 1943, Page 4

RACE CROWDS

MAY HAVE TO WALK

TRAMWAY MEN'S DECISION

The inconvenience caused to the Auckland Transport Board by the Auckland Trotting Club's habit of starting its meetings late, was .referred to at this morning's meeting of the board. A letter from the secretary of the Tramways Union. Mr F. Hackett. stated that letters dealing with the "chaotic timetable" of the Trotting Club's meetings at EDSom had been dispatched to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry, and the secretary of the Auckland Trotting Club. The letters stated that the Tramway Union had appealed in September for a closer adherence by the Trotting Club to its schedule, but in the recent holiday season no improvement was made. For a long time, probably years, the last race at EDSom had been up to 45 minutes late. In order to make transport available for the public on race days, the men were rostered for a special call back, but when the last race was late this meant a breach of their working agreement. The letters concluded: "Unless the Auckland Trotting Club takes some action it is very probable that over half the patrons remaining for the last race will have to walk home, reluctant as we are to take this step. We have resolved that when the next trotting meeting is held in Auckland the tramwaymen shall leave the racecourse at such a time as will enable them to arrive at their respective depots in accordance with the industrial agreement. The engineer and manager, MJr. Ford, produced figures showing how late the meetings had started on recent occasions. The secretary of the Tramways Union asked for the board's support, and the board decided to leave, the matter in the hands of the chairman. Mr. J. Sayegh, and the engineermanager.