AUCKLAND TRAMWAYS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 13024, 1 May 1940, Page 5

AUCKLAND TRAMWAYS

GO SLOW POLICY

ACTION BY EMPLOYEES

WAGES DISPUTE

Auckland, April 30

Thousands of Aucklanders were late for work this morning. For once they had a good and sufficient excuse, for it was painfully slow travelling by tram car. To the public it seemed all stopping and starting, and little speed between stops. And -it was, for they had become the innocent victims of a dispute which has developed between sections of employees in the tramway service and the Transport Board over wages claims hy the men, based on an estimate that the cost of living has risen by S per cent, over a period specified in a clause in their agreements.

Following a protracted discussion with representatives of the unions concerned, who were supported by officials of the Auckland District Council of the Federation of Labour, the board decided yesterday that the clause under which the claim for wages increases is being made should be referred to the Arbitration Court for interpretation, and, if the Court should not uphold the claim for 8 per cent, then it should be asked to declare the increase to which the men are entitled under the clause. The clause, under which the men’s demand is made, provides that proof of a rise or decrease can be given either through a pronouncement of the Arbitration Court, or through the official records of the Government Statistician.

Board’s Move Not Acceptable

The agreements further stipulate that, in the event of a failure to agree on any question arising under the foregoing clause, then the difference between the parties shall be referred to the Arbitration Court. The men’s representatives, however, were not prepared to accept the board’s suggestion that the case should be taken to the Court, and from the first shift this morning motormen and conductors on all routes worked what they term “safety first principles,” or their interpretation of certain regulations designed for the safety of the public. It is pointed out that these regulations, if strictly adhered to, make it impossible for the tramway service to work smoothly to schedule. That this is so was impressed very forcibly on members of the public this morn : ing. During rush hours, the delays were most marked, particularly in Queen Street, where trams banked up from the foot of Queen Street to Victoria Street. Many travellers gave up endeavouring to make the foot of Queen Street by tram, and walked. They won easily in the race, for the tramcars were not really serious competitors. They were ambling along in the “safe way,” conductors making sure that the platforms were clear before budging from safety zones. Furthermore, the public learned, often to their sorrow, that tramcars are built to accommodate a certain number of passengers, and _ regulations permit of only a certain number of “strap-hangers.” Normally, a conductor would urge passengers to “move along inside, please,” to cram just another man or woman aboard. But to-day he grinned broadly at intending passengers congregated on the sidewalks, and the moforman, having been given the signal that the car had its full complement, dutifully failed to stop. Yes, it was just regulations, as interpreted by the men.