TRAM STRIKE IN MELBOURNE

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25390, 13 January 1948, Page 6

TRAM STRIKE IN MELBOURNE

NO SETTLEMENT IN SIGHT VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT TO MEET (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 12.5 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Jan. 12. With the Melbourne tram strike now in its ninth day there is still no sign of a settlement. The Cabinet met today and decided to call the State Parliament together this week, probably on Thursday, and submit legislation giving the Government power to take over private buses for an emergency transport service. About 1000 striking tramwaymen today picketed suburban roads, warning private bus drivers not to deviate from their regular routes to carry passengers to the city. Members of the Amalgamated Engineering Union have been ordered by the union not to service any motor vehicles engaged in emergency transport. Suburban electric railways are still operating normally, carrying a heavy burden of extra traffic diverted from the tramways. There are now signs that if the trams do not resume soon the railways may be involved by the withdrawal of certain key men such as signalmen. Such a move would automatically bring the trains to a standstill. Most of the railwaymen, however, are unwilling to strike, since they have been granted most of their claims without striking.