Stoppage In Wellington

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30724, 13 April 1965, Page 1

Stoppage In Wellington

(N'cw Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, April 12. Nearly 400 bus drivers gave their union secretary’, Mr P. A. Hansen, prolonged applause and three cheers at the end of a three-hour stop work meeting today, a union spokesman said.

The meeting, called because of a breakdown in conciliation over a new award, completely stopped road passenger transport in the capital this morning. It began at 9 a.m. and finished at noon, but no drivers reported to work before the meeting.

The Wellington meeting had; held secret ballots on reconi-; mendations forwarded from’ the national executive of the New Zealand Tramway Worker ’ Union, said Mr Hansen, who is secretary of both the I Wellington and national j unions.

The Wellington session will [ be followed by meetings ini Auckland. Christchurch, New Plymouth. Dunedin and Invercargill, where similar secret ballots will be held.

He could not divulge the executive recommendations, and no-one would know the result of the secret ballot until all ballot sheets were in from ail meetings and counting was complete. Mr Hansen is not permitted to divulge dates of the forthcoming meetings. However, they will not be completed until after Easter, with the last to be held on April 26 "This was a splendid meeting." he said this morning “It was attended by practically 100 per cent of the membership." Wellington was without bus services until 12.45 p.m. Earlier. Mr Hansen had declined appeals to cancel the meeting or allow drivers to man buses before the 9 a.m. session SOME DELAYS “Fringe" streets had the most delays through crowding of vehicles, but in the middle

of Wellington there were remarkably few hold-ups. By about 8.45 a.m. all moving traffic appeared normal and the only difference was [the absence of buses and heavier parking in the “fringe” areas. There was no really serious deia,. to traffic anywhere in Wellington because of the stop-work meeting, said the Traffic Superintendent (Mr J. Anderson). “My general impression once the peak period was over was that traffic if anything moved more freely and the absence of buses gave the impression that the downtown area was much quieter than usual.” he said. “The only conclusion I can draw is that the public responded as it usually does to an emergency and many doubled up in bringing passengers to town.