TRAMWAY MATTERS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16267, 18 July 1918, Page 4

TRAMWAY MATTERS.

Replying to a letter from the secretary of the Tramwaymen's Union, asking what will be the position of men ; drawn in the'ballot when they return 1 from the front, if physically capable of resuming' their old duties,. the General Manager of the Christcburch Tramways says: "1 am directed to say that all employees who were on the staff of the Board at the outbreak of war will be reinstated in the same, or similar, positions, with no reduction ot wages, if physically capable of resuming their old' work. Men who liave been engaged since the outbreak nf war thus liilirig the places rendered .vacant by the' enlistment of. others, wid be given preference on returning, should there be any position vacant which they are qualified to fill." ilr Hunter also wrote to the General Manager stating that the union decided at one of its meetings to appoint a special committee to wait upon the Board with a request that the lastmentioned should grant an increase in wages by way of a war bonus to enable its employees to do something towards, meeting the . ever-increasing cost of tlie_ commodities of life. The writer continued: ' 'The union will. be pleased to learn when the Board tvill receive the ur.ion's representatives" The Gcneial Manager* replied that the Board's .-staff sub-committee was willing to meet the union's representatives on "July 24th. . • • , 31)' Hunter further, wrote,-• stating that he had : been instructed by., his union to. inform liirri that "the superannuation schemo-submitted by the Board to its staff for "consideration and adoption does not meet with.. any great measure of approval! Such being the case, the union would be.pleased if tho Board' would submit the alternative scheme wnicii, the union understands, the Board had under consideration."' The reply to this communication was to. the effect that the Board's' solicitor had advised that the Board had no statutory authority to subsidise any private superannuation scheme such as was previously under consideration, and that "the Board's authority to take up this matter is confined to the provisions of the National Provident Fund Amendment Act.. The whole matter is still receiving the consideration of the Board's Works and Traffic Committee." Messrs _F. Birch. S. L. Eyre, R. Barviell, t,. Snow, J; Newton, and the secretary. Mr Hiram Huiiter, have been appointed a committee to wait on the staff sub-committee regarding a war bonus.