FREE PASSES.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19212, 19 January 1928, Page 13

FREE PASSES.

a TRAMWAY discussion.

ISCGCESTION NOT ACTED '.'PON- | 'What about going to Brighton. J jjin v his wife would ask. Bill would el'idcr the cost and say: 'Right-oU Jfj ,rirl,' and the Tramway Hoard ~-ould benefit to thetfxtent of the lares of Bill's wile and family." This was the dialogue suggested by Air E. Snow, secretary ot tJie church- Tranuvay Workers; Union, m ISo event of the Board's assessor, a-'roeing bv conciliation yesterday to a Se Tn the demands tliat"AlJ emplovees covered by thus aw ai d s. liave tho right to purchase passes. «lucli will entitle them to travel on thc car* at all times at a cost or os pe* "snow also gave Bill's rejo.nricr to his wife: "I'm sorry, but wc re o . the bread-line—J can t aflord it, in the event of the Board not a 0 n to the clause. "Don t say no until vou've heard us, ' he asked Mr J. AFlesher, who promptly ncgat >ed the Droposiil. "We have submitted this to the Board with the idea of increasing revenue-we do consider The ordinary tramway employees who had free passes, did not use the train* much at all, Mr Hnow continued, ITiej had to use bicycles to get to \ ork in the early morning, and consequent]} rode tliein home again alter woik. .Mr K. McCalluni said that lie had hud "Bill's" experience himself. ive weighed up the cost of taking and 15 starving kids to Brighton, no said, "and turned it down time artei time on account of the cost.' Air J. Wood: You want the clause to apply to all tho tramway employees? Air Snow: All belonging to o»r union. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr W. H. Hagger) suggested that it was perhaps a question of how much the passes might be sold for. The Board's Engineer (Mr Murray Wright) said that on the same reckoning the Board should be prepared to grant such a pass to nearly every male in the community. Mr Flesher: How many members have you in the union? j\lr Snow: About 500.

Mr Flesher: And you want to purchase this privilege at a cost of £125 a year? Mr J. "Wood said the general manager estimated that with the present free passes the Board lost £IOOO of revenue per annum.

Mr Flesher: If you are so anxious to assist the Board's revenue, will you be prepared to forgo all free passes, if all other free passes now issued are withdrawn ?

Mr Snow said he could not say that, as some employees might object. The passes were not, however, of the value to employees that the Board seemed to imagine. He had held a pass for five years and it had not saved him os a year, as he found it quicker and more convenient to cycle. Sir Flesher: Well, you deserve a inedal.

The clause was deleted, the Board's assesisors intimating that it was an administrative matter and might be considered at a Board meeting, but cotild not be accepted at the conciliation .proceedings.