MUNICIPAL TRAMS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 113, 9 November 1910, Page 3

MUNICIPAL TRAMS.

THE MEN'S DEMANDS. A COMPAKISON. Tramway matters are very much to the forefront in our municipal government just now. First, there is the Tramways Bill, which has proved so obnoxious to civic authorities controlling municipal tramways. Then there are the proposals of the tramway men themselves for a Dominion award. These were published in The Post last Monday week. The Wellington tramways agreement dated for a period of two years, came to its term on the 18th October, but remains still current until a new award has been made. In view of the united action of tramway men throughout the Dominion the controlling authorities, municipal and otherwise, are taking united action also. The town clerk 01 Wellington (Mr. J. K. Palmer) has been instructed to call together a conference of the bodies concerned for the week after next. Two delegates will be invited to attend from eacli city which has tramways, for the purpose of discussing the terms of the proposed award. This, course is deemed necessary as the terms and conditions of employment are different in each particular tramway centre. In the meantime it will be interesting to compare the conditions in the four chief cities under their present awards with one another, and with the proposed Dominion award, as drafted bj the executive of the Tramwaymen'o Federation. It will be found that Lhe proposed award embodies more advantageous conditions to the men in respect o± wages. KATES OF PAY. Wellington. — Motormen — First-class, per hour, Is l|d; second-class, Is Id. Conductors — First-class, Is Id ; secondclass, Is; third-class, ll^d. -Auckland. — Motormen — Under one year, Is per hour ; over one year, Is o£d per hour ; ovei\ two years, 1& Id per nour ; over three years, Is l£d per hour. Conductors— Under one year, 10£ d per hour ; over one year, 11a per hour ; over two years, Hid per hour ; over'three years, Is per hour. Ohristchurch. — Motorman — Under one year, Is per hour;over one year, Is o£d; over two years, Is Id; over three years, Is "l^d. Conductors — Student conductors, under three months, 9^ per hour ; under one year as fully qualified conductors, 10id ; over one year, lid ; over two years, ll^ ; over three years, Is. Dunedin. — Motormen— Under one year, Is ; over one year, Is o£d ; over two years/ Is Id ; "over three years, Is l£d. Conductors — Under six months, lOid'per hour ; over six months and under one year, lid ; over one year, ll£d ; over two years, Is. Proposed Dominion Award. — Motormen — Under one year, Is l£d per hour ; over one year, Is iJd ; over two years, Is 2^d ; over three years, is 3d. Conductors—Under one year, Is per hour; over two years, Is id per hour; over three years, Is l^d.' In other classes of employees there are increases ot varying amounts in the proposed award over existing awards 'jl here 'are one or two points of some importance in the proposals of the tramwaymen. They ask that motormen and conductors booked up on late specials to go out after 9 p.m. snail be paid a minimum of two hours for such work. The Auckland award specifies time and. a halt for such work. An extension of annual leave is requested in the case of senior conductors, the minimum holiday to be eight days with, increases according to years oi services up to another eight days. Access is also demanded to.tfle ''records'.' of the employees, hitherto regarded by tramway departments as strictly private. An important provision is also that receipts shall be given 'to conductors when they pay in the clay's takings. This conflicts with the automatic "cash-in' 1 machine recently installed at Newtown sheds. This receives the cash-box, but gives no receipt. The Wellington award is dated to 18th October, 1910, and is consequently the first to expire, apart from its continuance on mutual understanding. The Auckland award is to continue in force until 27th February, 1911. The Christchurch award is dated to 30fch June, 1911. The Dunedin award expires on Ist November, 1911. It is probable that under the present law proceedings will have to be taken in each centre separately before a Dominion award can be adopted. ■