WHO IS A "WORKER"?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 825, 25 May 1910, Page 8

WHO IS A "WORKER"?

LADIES AND SPECIAL CARS. THE KIDDLE AGAIN DISCUSSED. n The Karori Borough Council further n considered last evening the complaint rc- [. ceived in regard to a lady having been „ called upon to leave a. workers', car. r. Mr. Dickcrson had written (his letter bei. ins received at the last meeting of tho i, council) to the effect that his wife had ). been called upon to leave a workers' car, and tho fact's wero placed betoro the city ,)- electrical engineer (Mr. -Stuart Kickard- -- son). .... ... i- The' council asked what instructions wero issued to tho conductors of workers >f cars, and pointed out that the cars could >f not be filled by workers only in the i- Karori Borough, although they might be i- well patronised within tho city bounds darics. Instructions were also issued that ['- an inquiry should be made from the ■• tramway department whether any charge o was made for the conveyance of luggage over the Karori tramway section, n This latter querv was answered in the *s negative, and, in regard to tho workers 's cars, the city electrical engineer wrote i- that workers' ears were supposed to bo is reserved for workers only and conductors '1 wero instructed that ladies with children d and school children were not entitled 11 to travel on workers' cars. In regard to . Mrs. Dickersou's case, the conductor had ■t no recollection of any lady wishing to '- board tho car at the given time and *■ place. He denied ordering anyone off i- the car, but admitted saying: "This is a workers' car." * •' The Mayor (Mr. C. I. Dasent) expressed t- the opinion that the council could not d go further than ask the city electrical e engineer for his definition of "worker,' '- so that it might be known what basis the conductors were to work on. The matter was a statutory one. Councillor Cathie said that the only ~ objection was that workers' cars were s not reserved exclusively for workers from > the Newtown end. e Councillor Hildreth: Does the engineer e contend that his conductors have the f right to refuse persons a ride on the •- cars ? [. The Mayor: He does not make that cony tention on his own account.' He simply a points out that the running of workers' cars is statutory, and that the cars are i- for workers only.. Tho definition of ;. "worker" rests with the conductors, so e far as I can see. That is not Mr. Eicha ardson's fault. Councillor Hildreth: If a conductor insists on a person leaving the car, would l- that person bo liable if he. refused to is leave ? The Mayor: He might be liable in e theory, but I do not'see that any cont viction could be recorded against him. [- Tho Act does not define who is a worker, o A councillor: Workers will havo to u carry badges. o Councillor Cathie suggested that it e might be necessary to introduce the a Auckland system by which workers were supplied with coloured tickets, d The .Mayor: The only thing, apparently, n that can be done, is to have the Act > interpreted, and have' 6omo definition of "worker" placed in it. We shall never I- get any further until that is dono. I would suggest that we should refer the r letter of the city'' electrical engineer to ;- the Tramways Committee, who might con- :- sider whether they can suggest anything d better. We do not wish to come into d conflict with the city electrical engineer. Councillor Burn: Wo do not want to I- define "the workers of Karori," because , I reckon we are all workers, e Councillor nildreth moved, and it was g agreed, that tho matter should be ren ferred to the Tramways Committee of tho o council.