WORKERS' TRAM TICKETS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 268, 6 August 1920, Page 8

WORKERS' TRAM TICKETS

PROTEST AGAINST ABOLITION. A protest against the decision of the Wellington (City Council to abolish workers' concession tickets has been forwarded to the Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. G. Coates) by the Lubour RepreWtation Committee. In his letter to the Minister the secretary of the committee (Mr. R. Jl'lCeen) stated:—"l havo been instructed by the above committee to write you. entering our emphatic protest against the proposal of the Wellington City Council to abolish "workers' concession tram tickets.'. I have to point out that tho resolution of the City Council to carry out this proposal was adopted upon tho casting vote of the Mayor. We are of the opinion that if a longer period of time had been granted before this proposal was adopted,' it would have been found that the present increased charges in tram' fares would ' havo been sufficient to meet the increased expenditure. It is needless for me to point out the extreme hardship this means to the workers in this city by the action of tho City Council in first abolishing workers' conccssion train tickets, and then immediately after increasing their ordinary fares; We shall be pleased if you will kindly receive a deputation from this committee in order that .we may discuss this matter with you." A copy of the letter has been forwarded to the Town .Clerk with a request that he shall bring it under the notice of the City, Council. The Minister has replied that he will be pleased to receive a deputation from tho L.If.C. on the matter, and, accordingly. representatives of the eommitfeo will wait on Mr. Coates at 10.30 a.m. today.

CITY COUNCIL'S POSITION: Workers' trnm ticket? were referred to ill the following terms in tho report of the Tramways Committee nt last night's meeting of the City Council The committee have to report that they have considered several requests from Labour unions that the resolution of the council to make application to the Government for the revocation of the Order-in-Council requiring workers' tickets to bo issued'on '.he trams; be not. proceeded with. They also had before them a letter from the Public Works Department, forwarding a communication addressed to the Minister of Public Works from a Labour union protesting; against the pronosed revocation. Tho committee authorised the Mayor to forward a letter to the Department, stating . that this counoil .desired that the Order-in-Council be rcvokod, in order that the Wellington City Council mny bo placed in the same position iw other tramway authorities; and also Hint after such revocation the council will tako into consideration tho question of- issuing general concession tickets available for use up to 9 а.m., and for return between 1.30 and б.30 p.m.