SHORT STRIKE IN DUNEDIN

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25160, 16 April 1947, Page 6

SHORT STRIKE IN DUNEDIN

CABLE-CAR SERVICE SUSPENDED

DISCIPLINARY ACTION RESENTED (P.A.) DUNEDIN. April 16.. For about two hours and a half this afternoon the Momington cable-car service was suspended through the action of gripmen and conductors, who disapproved of disciplinary action taken by the engineer-manager, Mr L C. Gteig, earlier in the day. The hold up in the service, which occurred about 2.45 p.m. and continued until 5.15 p.m., caused considerable inconvenience to hundreds of shoppers and those returning from work. In a statement the chairman of the Dunedin City Council’s transport committee. Mr McCrae, said the trouble arose after the suspension of a gripman by Mr Greig for allegedly ignoring instructions regarding compulsory stops on the line. “After an accident in February last, in which several passengers were injured,” Mr McCrae explained. “Mr Greig, in the interests oi safety, gave instructions tain compulsory stops. It had been brought under his notice, however, that all the men were not carrying out these instructions, and to-day one of the offenders was brought before him. Mr Greig suspended him for tne day for his dereliction of duty? tn® man having frankly admitted the oxfence. . . _ “As a result of Mr Greig’s decision to suspend the offender for a day, which I consider a very light penalty indeed, the men took concerted action this afternoon, but I think it fair w emphasise that they did this quite independently of the union. “To my mind their action was stup‘ and quite unwarranted,” Mr Mc ~ ra t . said, “and was tantamount to sugges ing that the engineer-manager had n right to institute compulsory stops. It was reported that the men co cerned resumed their duties ai pressure upon them by officials or u Tramways Union.