THE TEAM STRIKE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 122, 23 May 1908, Page 2

THE TEAM STRIKE.

A CONFERENCE ARRANGED. HOW VEHICLE OWNERS ARE FARING. [By Telegraph.— Special to The Post.] j AUCKLAND, This Day. The streets of Auckland" have been pervaded by a spirit of unaccustomed calm since midday on Thursday. The rumble of the cars is no longer heard, having given place to the less noisy 'buses and drags, many of which have been hauled out of resting places in which they have reposed for many years, and the proprietors of these vehicles are not doing such a big trade as might be expected, the reason being that most ot them, with the gradual extension of the tram service, have sold off their horses and dismissed their men. "IT'S JUST OUR BAD LUCK." "Anyway," said a disguested cabby to a Star representative- "this strike has not made a ten bob difference to any of us. Last night quite a number of people approached us and aske"d to be driven home, and suggested we should make a demand upon the Tramway Company for our fares. Of course we were not going to stand that. They could take that risk if they liked. It's just our bad luck;" he added, "that tho strike came on when the weather was perfect. If the weather had been bad we would have reaped a perfect harvest. As it is, people prefer to 'pad it.' " The strike and the' inconvenience caused thereby to the public has remained the principal topic of conversation, but so far tho public has displayed good temper and pationce over tho discomfort that has been so v acer-emoniously thrust upon it. The weather, however, has been brilliantly fine since Thursday, and the inconvenience caused by the cessation of tramway traffic and enforced walking has on that account not been greatly felt. IF RAIN CAME. If rain comes, however, the position will be changed, and the good-natured philosophy with which the/ situation is now being accepted will then be put to its real test. Tho Star, referring to this aspect of the matter, observes :—"lf: — "If rain comes on the inconvenience to which everybody is now being subjected would bo intensified a hundred-fold. We need hardly say that the trouble and risk to health in that case would fall chiefly on the thousands of men and women who work in shops and factories, and usually escape the danger of colds and other maladies of the sort by making use of the trams. It is on the 'working classes,' so-called, that the burden already falls | most heavily, and they would suffer far more seriously than the business men or employers if winter came suddenly upon us to-day. Both the Tramway Company and the men on strike should realise by this time that they have assumed very heavy responsibilities toward the city, and that they haye x no right to sacrifice ! | the public interests by rejecting any fair offer that may lead to a 'settlement or a reasonable compromise." TELEGRAMS PROM MINISTERS. [By Telegb/vph. — Special to The Post.] AUCKLAND. 22nd May. Mr. Alfred Kidd, M.P. for City Central, who has been in communication with the Premier and the Minister for Labour in connection with the strike, | to-day received the following replies :—: — ! Your telegram re tramway strike to hand. I am very sorry indeed that the trouble' has arisen. I think that had both sides agreed to some outside party acting as mediator before the extreme step of striking was taken a settlement could have been brought about. The officers of tho department were instructed to endeavour to bring the parties together, bub apparently failed to do so. Under these conditions, there is no option but for tho department to take the necessary action against the men for breach of the law, and instructions have been given to that effect. The people are entirely labouring under a delusion when they .think that there was any delay in regard to Blackball as far as the Government is concerned, as every step was taken in accordance with the la^v and without delay on the part of the department. • The fines from Blackball are being collected, as have all other fines which have been imposed by the Arbitration Court, and which I shall prove to the public at an early date. J. A. MILLAR. Sorry to hear of tramway strike, and thank you for your telegram. If there was any way in which a reconciliation could bo brought about I should bo only too glad. The matter, however, is now in 'the hands of the Minister of Labour, who is dealing with it. J. G. WARD.