DISMISSAL OF TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21716, 25 February 1936, Page 5

DISMISSAL OF TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES

REFERENCE BY BOARD MEMBERS “The form of propaganda that has been indulged in by one newspaper about the retrenchment of men on the permanent way is despicable,” declared'Mr R. M. Macfarlane, at a meeting of the Christchurch Tramway Board yesterday. The board recently decided to dispense with the services of 12 men who had been employed on permanent-way work. Mr Macfarlane said he resented the “propaganda” very much, for the retrenchment had been unavoidable. Mr Macfarlane did not hame the newspaper to which he referred. Mr G. Manning agreed that the retrenchment had been unavoidable, but he hoped that something would be done after the end of the financial year—on March 31 —to employ the men who had been, affected by the board’s decision. When the present board assumed control of the tramways, he said, there were 52 men engaged on the permanent way, but since then it had given employment to 72 men.

Mr J. Mathison said there was no doubt that in the very near future the men affected might be re-engaged, and he thought the board should do all it could to find them employment. He felt that the board had done a service to the public in keeping the men employed as long as possible, and he considered that the board should be commended.

In reply to a question by Mr W. J. Walter as to the method of selecting the men to be dismissed, the chairman, Mr J. K. Archer, said the board had had nothing to do with the choice of men to be discharged, but he had been assured by the board’s officers that the men had been selected on the basis of efficiency.