The Tramway Dispute.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16402, 23 December 1918, Page 6

The Tramway Dispute.

Although we believe the public generally would have been pleased if the Tramway Board had made some further concession to the employees, we do not see how any reasonable exception can be taken to the decision come to by the Board. There are two subjects of difference — first the question of hours of woTk and rate of pay; and secondly the reinstatement of the motormen who were dismissed for adopting the go-slow tactics. The Board has decidcd to refer the first question to the Arbitration Court under section 16 of the War Legislation Act, passed last session, and the second to the Tramway Appeal Board, which has been set up for the purpose of remedying any injustice done to men in the matter of dismissals and so forth. In each case the matter in dispute is to be referred to a judicial tribunal which will take evidence, and may be trusted to act fairly in the matter. Section 16 of the War Legislation Act was. passed with the object of meeting cases where it is urged that awards or agreements under the Arbitration Act ought to be revised owing to altered circumstances, such as the increased cost of living. It provides that the Court may amend the provisions of any such agreement or award as it thinks fit, in so far as such provisions determine the hours of employment and the rates of remuneration of any worker. It exactly fits the case now under consideration. As regards the dismissed motormen, the Board, having given what was evidently regarded as a promise to reinstate them if the employees resumed the normal running of the trams, might very well have taken them back without further question. However, wo have'no doubt the Appeal Board may be trusted to do substantial justice in this case also. The Union will be well advised, we think, to leave both issues to be decided in the

way suggested