TRAMWAY STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 205, 23 May 1908, Page 4

TRAMWAY STRIKE.

LATEST DEVELOPMENT. CONFERENCE TO BE HELD. DISASTROUS EFFECT ON BUSINESS DEPARTMENT TO TAKE ACTION. (BY TELEGRAPH. —PIIESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, May 22. Tho position of affairs in connection with tho tramway strike is unchanged. 'Tho'public' aro being favoured by perfect weather. Some aro making tho best use of tho few vehicles specially pressed into service, and many are travelling by train from tho suburbs usually served by tram. Tho bulk of tho workers, howover, are walking to and from business. A large meeting of the Tramways Union was held this morning, and the men appeared very determined to stay out; There will be a special sitting of the Arbitration Court on Monday to try cases against tho Union for breach of tho Arbitration Act. The names of the president, accrctary, and treasurer of the Union were taken' by the Labour Department, presumably in viow of theso proceedings. ■ MEETINQ OF THE UNION. ADDRESS BY THE SECRETARY. (BY TELEQRAm. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Auckland, May 22. In the course of his-speech at the meeting of the Tramway Union to-night, thfc Secretary (Mr. Rosser) stated that ■ tbb Union would be summoned. The Arbitration Court was coming next week to hold a special sitting, as was provided under tho Act. This had been done in the case of other strikes and 'Icck-outs, and history was repeating itself. They were going to do it in the case of tho tramway strike. (Applause.) " I don't want you to feel downhearted at all. (Cries of "No.") We went into this thing with our eyes opon. (Hear, hear.) .It cannot bo said that Wo aro'irresponsible children not knowing what wo are undertaking. 'Wo have gono into it as business men, fully realising what is going to happen. The comrnitteo will taks measures to' see that tho Union is properly represented in their case, though it would not be fair to say yet oil what grounds wo aro going to defend the Union." (Applause.) THE FINANCIAL OUTLOOK. Continuing his remarks,' Mr. Eosser said that tho committee recommended that no collection should be taken up to-day as the Union was in a state of strike. As far as tho making of a levy was concerned, lie did not think there was any need for that, for money was waiting to pour in from'outside. (Loud applause.) Last night he rang up Mr. Walklate and asked whether tho usual pay- ■ out would take place to-day. Tho manager said: " Yes, I see no reason why it should' not." ■ It was also agreed that the usual arrangement would suffice. "So you will go this aftornoon," concluded the secretary, "as ■ef nothing had happened, and get your money."' . :

A Voico: What about shortages? , Mr. Rosser: ' 'That is provided for, inasmuch as we have always protested against the payment of shortages . as not being fair and' equitable, especially those shortages which are. the the checking of the tickets by the'. offi'cialsr'ahd 'also' of 'giving change anddouble^4ipkets i? in-.-crpw-ded, .cars. The committee fecofnihended that-no shortages be paid by the men until the trouble is ended; If. you feel that you are really bound in ■honour to' pay-any, small shortage which you , have temporarily borrowed wo- leave it to' you to pay it, but if you feel that you have no idea how these shortages have occurred wb recommend you not to pay them'. In the - past, if you didn't pay-—" ' .' ■ 'A-Voice:Mou got the sack. , " Well, you are all on the spare list now, so that need not weigh .with you," rejoined Mr. Rosser. "I'can assure you that the public is with you in your trouble." (Hear, hear.) . , v . - .' ' "ORDERLY AND LAW-ABIDING." The committee also wished to compliment tho men on the orderly and law-abiding manner in which affairs were conducted yesterday., (Cries of "Quite right," and. " That's how it should be.'-') As tliey had' commenced so they must continue. (A' Voice: "So we will.") One gentleman had informed him that he had been in London and Sydney and had seen labour, trouble there, but he had never witnessed a strike of such , magnitude conducted in such a lawabiding' and: orderly; manner as that of yesterday. ' Mr. J. M'Dougall had approached him asking whether he should see Mr. Walklate and ende'avour to got the matter settled' by arbitration. His attempt had not been successful as ho was unable to seo the manager. Mr. Clarke, the accountant, showed tho offer which was .made by the company yesterday, and remarked that • it - still remained open. (Cries of "No, let'him.'come here.") Mr.'-Rosser continued that the manager had nothing to fear in addressing his own employees if ho felt that his case, was legally and morally right, He need have no fear at all in coming and talking to the men. They would give him a fair and impartial hearing. (Applause.) INTERVIEW WITH THE MAYOR. Mr. Rosser next referred to his interview [-.with tho Mayor last night. He stated that in reply to Mr.-Meyers's.suggestion re arbi-, tration,-he told tho Mayor that; as he (Mr. Myers) was head of tho party in tho Council which made a by-law to permit Strap-hang-ing- after tlie tramway men had been enforcing tho existing, by-law, he was scarcely the one tho Union would look to as an arbitrator, more especially as Mr. Myers was a shareholder in the company. Mi*. Rosser said the Mayor received his remarks very temperately and very kindly, and they talked over .matters. He. told tho Mayor-'.this showed the'need for an appeal -board in connection with tho Auckland tramway service,, and pointed out that such boards existed elsewhere. The two places where tho boards had not been sot up were Auckland and Brisbane, where the services wore run by private companies.' Tho position was that tho private employer would not tolerate any outside interference with his business. That principal was correct, according to law, of course. The proprietor of a boot -factory might object with somo reason, perhaps, but in tho case of the tramways there was a third party to be considered, namely, the public. Notwithstanding tbo fact that this service was owned and run by a private company, it had to have the consent of the people, and paid £100 a yoar for permission to use tho roads. Ho contended that'under such circumstances the public had a right to say something whero their interests were concorned. On an appeal board all parties concerned should have equal representation. Mr. Rossor said the Mayor also suggested an arbitration board consisting of the Mayors of *the five-boroughs. A voico: "Botter leave thein all out."A PERSONAL INVITATION. It was then moved that the president and treasurer of tho Union; go to the tranlway company's offico and give Mr. Walklate a personal invitation to attend that meeting. A member said it would be a sign of weakness to send asking Mr. Walklato to meet them. '; ; . ■ 1 Mr. Rosser said they must remember that tho public wero watching their actions, and it would do no harm to show that the Union was willing to hoar anything Mr. Walklato hail to cay. A discussion took place regarding payment of shortages, and it was agrwdThat all shortages.b» paid as nsu&l to-day." Mr. Rosser then asked tho men, in tho event of Mr. Walklato accenting their invitation, to treat him with all due respect as thoir superior officer in tho company. ' Even if there wero -things said by Mr. Walklato with. whioh they did not agree thoy should

lot that gentleman, retire from the room wit& ii r , csi ! cct ue a visitor. "You have," \\ added tho secretary, " conducted yourselves as men so far,-and all I ask is that vou condo oo." ' (Cries of " We mill , Wo will 1) Mr. Eosser said he knew they would, but ho had said those fow words of caution becauso there might be a few hottaughter") 011 amon ® 6 '' " lem ' (Applause and A neniber asked what would be done about the men came out besides tho conductors and motormen. Mi. Rosser said that this was a good l opportunity for repairs ,to be carried out, and so leng as tho company- was not running cars he saw. no reason why the overhead gearmen and repairers should come out. It ■■was agreed that p. 11 men not' directly concerMcd in the running of the 1 cars bo permitted to Temain ,at their occupation provided no attempt _ is mado to run the c-ara with blackleg" labour. ' - THE GENERAL MANAGER'S REPLY. Tho messengers.'who had interviewed Mr. Walklatc returned with the report that tho general manager would not decline to meet tho men, but had really intended to do so. It was, however, impossible for him to do so to-day, and he would also like two or three ■ hours to consider the matter finally. Ha would communicate with the secretary dur-i ing the aftomoon, informing him if he could arrange to meet the men at IL3O a.m. tomorrow. Subsequently Mr. Eosser received the following letter from Mr. Walklate:—- " I have to thank you for your cordial invitation extended to me by a deputation this morning, consisting of the president and treasurer of your union, to attend a meeting and discusß the matter in dispute , between us.. lam quite will-. • ing'to attend 1 a meeting at the hour of '' 10.30 to-morrow morning, either in' your .. room, or, perhaps more conveniently, in tho Chamber of Commerce hall, which is close by, and which I now place at your disposal for that purpose. ' "J. J. WALKLATE, . " General Manager."

MR. WALKLATE INTERVIEWED.

Interviewed 'by a "Star" reporter thig afternoon, Mr. Walklate, general , manager of ,the Tramway Company, declined-to ba drawn into any committal statement with regard to the . present crisis. "This you call say," said Mr. Walklato, "Tno president and treasurer of the Tramway Employees Union have just waited upon me' and stated that their purpose was to extend to; me a cordial invitation to go to their meeting. They assured me that I would receive a fair hearing should I , decide to accepc the invitation; and. explain': the company's position in connection with the present trouble. Unfortunately the men had to wait some time before they could see' me, owing to my being engaged in attending _ to some business necessitating my attention oslewlierc, thus preventing my office getting into communication with me until: nearly 1Q .o'clock. Under these circumstances I informed the deputation that I would communicate with them during the afternoon." "ABSOLUTELY DISASTROUS." "What is to be the effect of the strike oa business in tile city?" was the question put to a number of business people. . .■ "Absolutely disastrous to some of the smaller businesses, and very serious in all branches of trade," replied the principal of one of v the biggest: firms in Queen Street. "See for yourself what the position is this morning. This is the : height of the season, and under : ordinary circumstances every counter would be lined with customers. On such a delightful morning as this ordinarily wo have between 200 and; 300. people in at }■ this hour. Now, as you ran see, , there are not 50 people in the premises outside the attendants. Yesterdayafternoon business was extremely dull, and our-takings for . yesterday were £300 below those, on the two preceding.days. In every respect there has been •a marked difference I ,' rindit'seemsto me that if the strike continues'traded within tho city will : c6llapse)'.'As in 'the.case "of the. railways, so with tramways,'there can be no justification for .resorting to/astrike, and it seems to' meV that, the policy 1 pursued is. suicidal." .Other firms.were equally,emphatic.on the t subject,! and referred to the strike as being certain to paralyse trade within the city. Yesterday afternoon a decided falling off was experienced, and though to-day is market day and many country people have'-managed to get into town, there is much dissatisfaction expressed at the marked decrease in trade. Should the strike continue it is feU that the effect will be very serious indeed.

QUESTION OF FINANCIAL AID.

[BY TSLEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] . Auckland, May 22. A meeting of the management' committee of tho Tramways Union considered the question of making an appeal to tlie unions oJ the Dominion for financial assistance. It was resolved that it would bo premature yet to do so, as there was no need for the strike' to- last any longer' than the general manager-desires. The Auckland branch of the Now Zealand Socialists passed a resolution expressing full and hearty sympathy with the employees, • and.pledging its moral support and>financial assistance. •: , TELEGRAMS FROM MINISTERS. Mr. Alfred Edd, M.P.| who has:bean ia communication with the Premier and Minis- ' ter for Labour in connection with the strike to-day received the following replies:— Your, wire ro tramway strike to hand.. I am very sorry indeed that the trouble has arisen. I think that had i both sides agreed to some outsido party acting as 5 mediator' before the oxtrome sixip of , striking was taken a settlement • could •' have been brought about. The officers endeavoured to bring the parties together, but : apparently failed to do so.; Under these conditions there is'no option but for tho Department to take the neces- . sary action' against the men for breach ■..'•of the law, and instructions. have, been given to that effect. The pooplo are entirely labouring undeif a delusion when they think.-that' there"" was any . delay in . regard to Blackball, as far as the Gov- - . ornment is, concerned, ,as every step waa • taken in accordance with the law and . without delay Oh the part of 'the Depart- ' ment. The fines from Blackball are being collected, as have all other fine's which have been imposed by the Arbitration Court, and which I shall prove to the < publio at any.early date. ■ v J. A. MILLAR Sorry to hear of the'tramway strike, and thank you for your, telegram.. If thero was any way in which a reconciliation could be brought about' I should be : only too glad. The matter, however, is • now in the hands of the Minister for Labour, who is- dealing with it. J. G. WARD. FULL INQUIRY URCED.y ■ Gisborne, May 22. Mr.- Pryor, New Zealand : secretary of tba Emplojyers' Federation, telegraphed this morning to the. Minister for Labour:—"The Federation views with apprehension the continued prevalenco of strikes, which are a serious menace .to the Acts and strongly urges immediate and full enquiry into j tho ■ Auckland tramways trouble and the promptest possible action if ail offence or offencoi are disclosed." WELLINGTON TRADES HALL SYMPATHY. Auckland, May 22.

Mr. Rosser has received tho following telegram from tho. Wellington Trades Hall:— " Havo succeeded in induciug the local i Trades Council to' unanimously carry a resolution .promising moral and .financial support to the Auckland tramway mori, it required; ■ also calling npcm afl unemployed tramway me* not te e* to Auckland during the treubU. Tfes Msgates rre t*tt relifi, saU *21 #»ftport yon end tlw hoi. IVt Ita&mrifat *£«autire is otwsly «fl MWTnwiuts, • and will take action, if necesSSrj, to maintain tho rights and privileges of • thoir Auckland comrades in the present , justifiable struggle. Good'luck I "YODNfi, Secretary."