FINISHING TIME FOR TROTTING

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28133, 23 November 1956, Page 14

FINISHING TIME FOR TROTTING

TRAMWAY UNION COMPLAINT

AGREEMENT WITH CLUB CLAIMED

Members of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Tramways and Public Passenger Transport Industrial Union of Workers are said to be “annoyed” at the action of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club in making 4.35 p.m. the starting time for the last race at its meeting tomorrow without notifying the union. “The finishing time for the meeting on Saturday is causing a great deal of concern to our members,” said the secretary of the union, Mr L. C. J. Southon, yesterday afternoon, “because the club has seen fit to break a long-standing agreement with the union without notifying us. The first that I knew of it was when I received complaints from members about the starting time scheduled for the last race.

“On all other occasions when the club wished to run its races later than 4.15 p.m. it has always notified the union and given reasons. In all cases it was conceded by the union that the club did have a reason for starting its last race later, and members were very reasonable about it. Now, however, it seems that the club has completely ignored the union and any previous arrangements between us. Members are very annoydd about it, and it is hoped that the club will receive a deputation from the union to discuss a definite promise to return to a 4.15 p.m. finish on Saturdays. “Day’s Work Completed”

“It should be realised that the return loading will, in the main, be done by members who have already completed their normal day’s work,” said Mr Southon. “It means a very long day for these men, who are required to start work somewhere between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Saturday, so that by agreeing to finish at 4.15 p.m. in the past the trotting club has helped materially to shorten the span of working hours of these men.” Mr Southon said he realised that as starting times of the races on Saturday had now been published it could not reasonably be expected that they be altered, but it was hoped that the last race would be started promptly and that in the future the club would abide by promises to the union to end the meeting at 4.15 pjn.” “Presumably the union is going to send a letter to the club along these lines, in which case it will be considered by the committee,” said the president of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, Mr W. M. Ollivier, when he was asked yesterday if he had any comment to make on Mr Southon’s statement.