THE TRAMWAYS TROUBLE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 311, 20 September 1918, Page 4

THE TRAMWAYS TROUBLE

THE CITY COUNCIL'S ATTITUDE. The discussion on the tramway position at tho special meeting of the City Council on Wednesday afternoon was not open to the Press. It was learned yesterday that tho council went into tlio whole question df tramwaymen's pay very exhaustively, and the opinion was expressed that the City Council would not be dealing fairly by the public in acceding to the men's demands. Indeed, there were those who were of the opinion that the council was going beyond the mark in offering the 10 per cent, increaso after the 5 per cent, increase had been turned down by the men, and the existing agreement regarding overtime had been broken without a qualm. To assist tho public in estimating what tho pay rates of tramway men would bo, had they accepted tho proffered 10 per cent, increase, 2s. in tho pound should be added to the following rate of average pay earned: — . Senior motorraen (42) at Is. 4d. plus 5 per cent, bonus (491 hours ordinarySi hours' overtime),' £4 6s. . Motormeu (36) at Is. 3jd. plus 5 per cent, bonus (49J hours ordinary—B| hours' overtime), £4 4s. 4d. ' Motormen (13) at Is. 3d. plus 5 per cent, bonus (50 hours ordinary—ll hours' overtime), £4 6s. 3d. Motormen (50), at Is. 2Jd. plus 5 per cent, bonus (48 hours ordinary—9 hours'overtime), £3 16s. Senior conduwors ('1) at Is. 2sd. plus 5 per cent, bonus (52 hours ordinary— 10J hours' overtime), £4 ss. Conductors (12) at Is. 2d. plus 5 per cent, bonus (51 hours ■ ordinary—ll hours' overtime), £4 Is. Bd. Conductors (8) at Is. lsd. plus 5 per cent, bonus (49£ hours ordinary—l 3} hours' overtime), £4 Is. Id. Conductors (148) at Is. ljd. .plus .5 per cent, bonus (481 hours ordinary— 9 J hours' overtime), £3 12s. Gd. It is understood that the decision to ask the men to continue working in accordance with the existing agreement, was not arrived at without a division. There wero eleven councillors present, and tlio motion to stand firm was carried by 7 votes to 4. COUNCIL STANDS BY ITS DECISION. At last night's meeting of the City Council, when it was proposed to approvo the business done in committee on the previous day, Councillor J. Castlo moved tlio (following amendment:— That this council grunt a bonus of 10 per cent, on ordinary timo and overtime. Councillor Castle said that a proposal to offer 10 per cent, on ordinary timo had been made. The question of the dignity of? the council had been raised. Tho question was not one of dignity, •but of settling the dispute' justly. It would be more just to offer 10 per cent, on ordinary time as well as overtime than to offer 10 per cent, merely on ordinary time. Ho this would prove a satisfactory solution oft" the tr/iublo. The council had not treated the men as they should have been treated. The men went before the council in a gentlemanly manner and showed that they did not get enough to lire properly on. Instead of calling a special meeting to deal with it the council shelved the matter for a fortnight, and then postponed it on account of the opening of the. tunnel down south. Then there was brought down a bald proposal for an increase of ss. to married men. No one seconded Councillor Castle's amendment, and the motion was carried. Tho following resolution was passed by the Wellington Trades and Labour Council last night: "That the Wellington Trad's and Labour Council expresses its entire sympathy with the tramwaymen who are asking for higher wages .than they at present receive." Speaking to the resolution, the mover pointed out that 148 conductors, after working the same number of hours in the week as tho corporation labourers, only received £2 11s. 4d. in return. Surely no citizen other than the Mayor and his coiiueillors could consider it possible to live on such a pittance and still remain respectable and honest I The men did not solicit charity; they were but asking what they have every moral right to demand—adequate re : turn for services faithfully "rendered.