DIFFICULTIES OF NEGOTIATORS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20543, 11 May 1932, Page 12

DIFFICULTIES OF NEGOTIATORS.

MAYOR'S COMMENT.

LONG AND TRYING ORDEAL.

"I am compelled to say that the members of the Tramway Board proved much more difficult and stubborn than the representatives of the union," said the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr D. G. Sullivan) in a statement which' he made yesterday on the conduct of negotiations between the Board and the Tramway Employees' Union- Mr Sullivan paid a warm tribute to the efforts of Bishop West-Watson and Bishop Brodie, and stated that if negotiations at Monday's conference had broken down he intended to call a public mooting in the Council Chambers or the Civic Theatre to consider the whole position in the interests of the City. "More Difficult and Stubborn." "In my old trade union days I had from twelve to fifteen years' experience in negotiating settlements between employers and workers, but I. must say that the negotiations between the Tramway Board and the Tramway Union proved the most difficult job of its kind that I have ever had in my life," commented the Mayor. "I am compelled to say also that the members of the Tramway Board proved much more difficult and stubborn than the representatives of the union. The latter were hard fighters, but they seemed more human than the other party to the conference. I do not obscure- the fact that, op account of my Labour sympathies, I may be biased in favour of the men, but, all the same, the more I had to dr. with them throughout the most difficult negotiations, the more my affection for them increased. I would like to say," added Mr Sullivan, "that I have not the slightest doubt that the Board members felt that they were justified in their attitude, and that they were doing their duty to their responsibilities. "I cannot speak too highly of the magnificent work done by the two Bishops—Bishop West-Watson and Bishop Brodio. Each of them in turn saved the breakdown of the conference. Each of them was exceedingly courageous in his attitude and statements, while being extremely kind and fair in his attitude to either side. I always respected them, but that respect has been intensified enormously as a result of my experience with them. They were actuated by a high sense of duty, and they gave expression to their thoughts in the noblest of words. It was obvious io all of us as the long-drawn-out struggle went on that Bishop West-Watson was feeling the physical strain very greatly indeed, yet he kept on in his great endeavour to bring about a settlement. A Fine Address. "Bishop Brodie's speech at one stage of the proceedings last evening, when the conference "appeared to be faced with the certainty of a breakdown, was a noble and a magnificent effort that touched the heart and mind of every person present, and once again rescued the situation " The Mayor continued: "The DeputyMayor, the Rev. J. K". Archer, once more revealed his extraordinary vitality, and proved himself capable of great effort in the final hotars when it 1 seemed that nothing more could be said that would advance the situation, rnd the citizens of Christchurch have much to thank him for for his splendid efforts. Mr .Tames Roberts, secretary of the Alliance of Labour, was a tower of strength, and while standing loyally by his trade union principles, V Irought to bear upon the proceedings a wealth of commonsense and experience that was of the greatest value. "During the last few hours following Bishop Brodie's impassioned appeal, the Board seemed in a more tractable mood, and a number of its members obviously, at that stage, were straining every nerve to find an acceptable solution of the difficulties. It was an experience that I and others who took part in the proceedings are not likely to forget

Calmer Conditions. "At the commencement of the proceedings at 3 o'clock yesterday, when I addressed the Board, I made an appeal to all present that we should agree to stick it out, day and night, no matter how long it took, until we had found a way out of the difficulty. 1 was reminded by some of those present that they had not brought their blankets with them," said the Mayor smilingly. "I think that all who took part in tli9 negotiations are .entitled to the highest commendation for the determination with which they remained at their posts until the early hours of this morning in their efforts to find a solution, render service to their City, and to save it, if possible, from further disturbances. As Mayor, I want to thank them all—the Board members, the union members, and the negotiators—for the service they gave. I would like to repeat the request which I made after the conference, that now that a tribunal has been set up with power to settle the trouble, the public mind will be calmed, and feelings of bitterness brushed aside. That, I know, will be the earnest prayer of every responsible citizen of Christchurch,"

NIGHT SERVICE RESUMED. TRAMS EVERY HOUR. ONLY* FIVE LINES AFFECTED. Although the tramway employees who are on strike will not return to work pending the decision •of the tribunal, the Tramway Board has arranged to run from this evening a modified night service on five lines only. There has been no night service since the strike began last Wednesday. From this evening the service will bo continued on the following lines:— Pananui, Barrington street to St. Albans, Sumner, New Brighton, and lliccarton. Trams will leave the Square for the different termini at 7.20 p.m., and thereafter hourly until 10.20 p.m. Trams leaving the Square at 5.45 P m - — lor tne P ast wcel< tuese have been the last trams —will return to the Square instead of proceeding at once to the sheds. Only six tramcars will be required for this night service two being used on the Sumner line, and one on each of the other four lines. The crews will not be brought on duty until the afternoon, so that they will be on duty for no more than eight hours. The daylight service, ending witli trams from the Square at 5.45 p.m., was maintained yesterday, and no attempts were made to interfere with the running of the service.