AN ULTIMATUM!

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1355, 5 February 1912, Page 5

AN ULTIMATUM!

TIAMWAYMEN'S LAST OFFER OPEN UNTIL NOON TO«»A Y. IF NO SETTLEMENT, "OTHER UNIONS WILL BE : CALLED ®UT. The strike has suddenly assumed a graver aspect. The Strike Com» mittee, which is now reinforced by Mr. Robert Semple, organiser for the federation of Labour, convened a meeting of union representatives, which was held yesterday morning, and it is said that as a result of the meeting tho committee is now assured of support for the strikers from members of practically all the unions in Wellington, Armed with this assurance they have stated their terms of settlement to the City Council, and advised them that if thero is no settlement by noon to-day the strike will bo extended. The council met on Saturday morning, and received a report from the Special Committee which had conferred with the strike delegates. This business over, the council went into committee, and received a further communication from the Strike Committee, suggesting terms of settlement. It is understood that there was some reasonable prospect of tho terms being accepted when the meeting broke up suddenly owing to_ certain statements and conduct by Councillor Hindmarsh. The same proposals will be submitted to a special meeting of the council at 11 a.m. to-day, but this time they come as an ultimatum, If they are not accepted, interesting, but serious, developments may bo expected at noon to-day.

Wellington people spent their week-end nithout trains, and spent it in very fair comfort. One notable effect of the absence of cars was that tho seaside places, Lyall Bay, Island Bay, and Seatoun, were not visited by'nearly as,large crowds as might otherwise have been expected in such delightful weather. On tho other hand the ferry boats carried rather more than their usual lend of people to tho bays across tho harbour. It has now. been definitely announced that the Strike Committee have presented an ultimatum to the council, and that unless the council settle on tho terms submitted tho striko will be extended. Tho offer is open until noon to-day, and if the terms are not accepted by that time, it is probable that, other workers will be called out. The usual method is to put the pressure On gradually, bat ruthlessly, rather than to call out all workers at onoe. The leaders are not communicative as to what. decisions havo been arrived 4t in the matter of what unions shall be called first, and it is not even certain whether this'has'bcon discussed fully.' It is reported, however, that .'the wharf labourers expected to come out today. The council havo decided to meet this morning to consider the proposals to be submitted. Tho Striko Committee havo upheld their sub-committee's objection to Clause 1 in tho draft agreement which was prepared on Friday, and they now suggest another:— "That it be an instruction to the Electrical Engineer, on the settlement of the dispute, to. have Inspector Fuller placed in a position where ho will not have any dealings with the members of tho Tramways Union."

This clause is in the terms of a resolution of the council, but it has the merit in the union's eyes of making no mention of tho-fact that'tho council have agreed to transfer Inspector Puller at his own request. The clause they objected to was: "That Inspector Fuller bo transferred at his own request to another branch of the service. And the second clause in the agreement, which remains the same, is as follows: "That the council guarantee that, on the resumption of work, the men involved in this trouble shall not be subject to victimisation, but shall bo reinstated in their employment with- : out loss of status." . ■ A statement was made last night by the Acting-Mayor, which is reproduced hereunder. In effect it sets forth the council's terms of settlement and suggests that the men ought to'accept them 1 .