"OVERS AND UNDERS."

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 11, 13 July 1909, Page 7

"OVERS AND UNDERS."

TRAM CONDUCTORS' TROUBLES. Some time ago, the Tramways Committee of the City Council decided that j the amounts remaining over in tram conductors' bags, after each day's ticket sales were checked, should be paid in to a fund -from which conductors incapacitated through accident might have their ordinary half-pay allowance made in such cases supplemented, at discretion of the committee, whenever j it was apparent that there had been no contributory negligence on the part of the conductor. This proposal did not meet with favour in the union, it being contended by some members that as conductors were obliged to make good all "unders," or shortages, they should receive personally, all "overs," or surpluses. Intimation was made to the Tramways Committee that the union desired to send a deputation to interview it, and the committee then intimated its desire to be provided, in advance, with a summary of what the deputation would ask for. This was done to enable the members of the committee to follow the more easily the deputation's statements, and to be prepared to examine the deputation on any matteis i/liat might arise. Apparently the union regarded the request \in another light, for a letter was sent to the committee, yesterday, which was regarded as being couched in an objectionable way. By decision of the committee it was resolved to hand the letter to the newspapers, for publication. It runs : — "My committee have considered your letter, and have to mention in reply that if its terms were acceded to, there would be no necessity for the committee to receive the deputation. "The committee further directs me to say that they are of opinion that conductors are exclusively entitled to all 'overs' paid in, equally as mucU as the department is entitled to demand payment of 'shortages' from them, and therefore beg to respectfully inform you that if the Tramways Committee persist in carrying out the present system of allocating 'over&,' which is a distinct breach of faith with the union, as lecords will prove, we shall advise our members, collectively, not to pay 'shortages,' and will, if necessary, test the issue in a court of competent jurisdiction. "Yours faithfully, "W. T. YOUNG. ("Secretary Wellington Tramway Employees' Union.)"