TO LEAVE WORK.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 23, 27 January 1912, Page 7

TO LEAVE WORK.

UNION'S SECRET BALLOT, MAJORITY FAVOUR STRIKE HOW THE VOTING WENT. As anticipated in yesterday's Poet* the result of the secret ballot of mem* bers of the Wellington Tramways Employees' Union over the question of the Fuller case, announced to-day, shows a large majority in favour of leaving work, if a satisfactory settlement of the Fuller difficulty is not arrived at. The exact policy to be pursued will be left to the executive of the union, but, in, any event, the fourteen days' notice has to be given, in accordance with the wording of the ballot paper. This was as follows :— TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES* INDUSTRIAL UNION OF WORKERS. If a satisfactory settlement of the Fuller difficulty is no,t arrived at, ar* you in favour of leaving work? Yes. No. Leave in the line you are in favour of. The fourteen days' notice must be given. A. SUTHERLAND, Secretary. The ballot papers were counted laefc night by Messrs. D. Drewitt and D. Peoples, scrutineers, Mr. A. Sutherland, secretary, being returning officer. Tho voting resulted, as follows :

The total membership of the union is about 380, composed approximately at follows ;—

It will thus bo seen there are about thirty votes etill to come in. but these cannot affect the result, which is regarded by the executive a/s a distinct vote of confidence in its leadership. The future policy is in the hands of the executive. It may be added that co far notice has not been received by the City Council from the union of intention, to leave work after the expiry of the appointed fourteen days. ATTITUDE OF CITY COUNCIL. The attitude of the City Council will apparently be one of firm resolution. Any, overtures " for the eettlement of the trouble must now come from the union. The management believes that the union is not solid for a strike, in the event of which a number of the men would be ready to carry on work. There is not at present any disposition t6 transfer In« , epcctor Fuller to other duties. In the engagement of motormeu to run the cars in the event of the men going out, it is not thought that tli?B power* of the Tramway Act will be pressed by the Government against the employment of uncertificated motomien. A considerable number of corporation employees outside the union have had experience in driving the cars, and in case of emergency these men will probably be calkdi on to act under indemnity against any, possible legal proceedings that might be taken. FEDERATION OF LABOUR'S VOICE. MANIFESTO TO THE TRAMWAY MEN. Following f*st on the tramway men J « ballot in favour of a strike comas a manifesto (issued this morning) by th* Socialist New Zealand Federation of Labour to the^nember* of th* union. It is a sheet of red paper, headed .-—"Well' done, Wellington! New Zealand Fedora, tion of Labour. Manifesto to the Members of the Wellington Tramway Union. 1 * The full text i&:— " Fellow Worker*,— Your magniflc*a,ti vote against the tyranny and high* handedness of the City Council i» « credit to your solidarity. The demand that your members* be freed from th* baseless charges and suspiaionn brought forward by ignorant or misguided official^ U most encouraging indeed. "In taking up the stand you have, you will meet with the iinanimoue •upport of all unionist* worthy the name, i'o awing into line behind you will be the action of all workers with a •park of manliness and self-respect. '^Your determination to put an endl ' to creatures who would not hesitate toi blast the character of yoiu s fello** unionists is deserving of the highest praise. "During the next two weeks STAND SOLID. The united preea will howl at you I The combined forcee of capitalism, will curse you. A section of that thoughtless and ofttimee brutal body called the public will hurl denunciation* at you. "Amid it all, STAND SOLID. Men of the Wollinafton Tramway* Union, your one weakness is the fact of youy isolation from the militant body of organised workers in New Zealand, th« Federation of Labour. If you were but associated with that body, ac are the Auckland Tramway Union, very soon would the City Council be brought tq its knees. " Although not connected with the Federation, the Federation will be with you in this tight. It will encourage ( you and assist you as far as it can.. Later it may ask you to join it and fight with it, but to-day it is prepared to do its duty towards the organised workers, of the Wellington Tramway Men'a Union. "Again we greet you, coamtd««, and bid you fight the injustice* and ineult* which have been cast upon you. " We are with you to the last. "J. GLOVER, 1 "Sec. N.Z.F.I*.* INSPECTOR FULLER'S CASE. In the statement of the union aide of the case publishecl in yesterday 1 * Post, as given to our reporter by th« secretary, reference was made to a clause in the judgment of Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., on the Auckland tramway strike :-— "That any inspector prove* guilty of making misstatements or false reports against employees • shall be Instantly dismissed." This the tramway men, according to Mr. Sutherland, "retard as on all fours with the conduct of Inspector Fuller in White's case." In justice to the inspector ib should bo stated that The Post is not aware of any such similarity.

JMotormen ... Conductors ... Car-shed hands Poweisliouße Overhead ■ staff ••• 120 130 90 20 20

For ... Against Informal 275 66 9 Total 350