TRAMS AT CHRISTMAS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 989, 2 December 1910, Page 5

TRAMS AT CHRISTMAS.

';; . ■■;•;. .;.-'._... '.■?'"'■■ \: : "■;.' '■'.' . '■ .VvbISCtiSSIONi.Bt-.THE'-'ciTy:.-.-'^' ■;'.-;.;, ..■ :. COUNCIL.:' ■'. ■■ ..; ■'■ , A discussion took place at the meeting '■•,'■ W-the City Council'last evening upon the ; "running of .cars during the Christmas season..? > .--.■ '■•. ' ■ ' The Mayor-stated that'un3er the new ."•Public Holidays Act a holiday falling on a Sunday had to be observed on'the following Monday. On' Monday, December : ,26, double wages-would have to be paid, but the council could not charge double "■', fares. On Sunday (Christmas Day) time ' : ,and a hal£ would have to be jaid. The 'question *wa.s, what services should bo ■run? ■ ■'. . Councillor .Fletcher suggested that the employees might for once be given a day ":' among their friends at home, and moved that no cars be run on Sunday (December '■■ 25)."".i . ■.-.■ .'■ ;. • ■ ■ ■■ Councillor. MTJaren seconded. It had never paid the corporation to run trams on a. Sunday. '.: ■. At the request of the Mayor, Mr. Richardson (Tramway. Engineer) stated the position. If the council ran an ordinary Sunday service on Christmas Day, the cost would bo' £110 extra for wages. If a service were run on Monday, during the whole day, supplemented by extra cars, .■'■■■ the"cost.would , be.about .£2OO extra for ' wajjes." . . > Councillor Hindmnrsh said all the men '. were, paid on Christmas Day, whether they worked or'not. He took it .tho idea was to get back some of the crfra expenditure that would have to be incurred. In . this' matter. the -public must be'considered, and not the City Council or the tram- : way. men.! People now, as a rule, instead : of eating on Christmas Day,' went out into, the fresh air. It would be in accord ■with, tho times to run the service. Councillor SMrtcliffe declared it would never, do to stop the cars on Sunday. ■ Councillor Fitzgerald supported the motion. They were going to have two i Christmas, days-r— _■■■:-.'. The Mayor: You can have two Christdinners, hut you can't havo two Christmas Days! .-.-.'-.. .Councillor Fitzgerald: According to the decision of Parliament, we are going to have two Christmas Days. , Traffic on Monday, tho speaker continued, would recoup the cost of.oitra running. : Tho Mayor, hoped Councillor Fletcher's motion would be, lost. . ■_' .-. After some further discussion,, Conncil- .. Jor Fletcher's motion was lost by 11 yotes. to 5. ■•■■■•..' •'' A motion proposed by the Mayor "that Sunday hours be-run on Sunday, Deconi- '■ ber. 25, and that the usual cars be run on ' Monday," was curried on tho voices.