TRAMWAYMEN'S DEMANDS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1919, Page 7

TRAMWAYMEN'S DEMANDS

FAILURE OF RECENT CONFERENCE

It is announced in the current issue of the New Zealand Transport Worker that,, following the failure of th© recent national conference, the dispute between; the Tramwaymen's Federation and the i employers has been placed unreaervedlyi in the hands of the New Zealand Transport Workers' Advisory Board. The Transport Worker contains some interesting comments on the proceedings of the conference, which was of a private nature. "On perusing the counter-proposals, it was readily seen that they had been to a very great extent dictated by the rep^ resentatives of the Christchurch' Tram^ way Board, and, as, many of'tlie'.'conditions laid down would mean.a,.retrogression of ten years for some of the'other, centres, it can readily be understood that they evoked no enthusiasm. In addition, it was propesed that the different districts be placed in.three groups, witlii different rates of pay—an obviously clumsy, arid not quite original way of tryingto create the antithesis of unity,, namely, dissention. This, in itself, strongly pointed to the conclusion that the employers were not a_xious to promote a settlement. The fact, however, seemed to be that those of the employers wlic were of a reasonable frame of mind, allowed their side of the conference to be dominated by the destructive propensities of those "who were adverse to settlement, and,' in doing so, they probably realise now, that they took a false step. "The men's representatives,, after consideration of counter-propos-ils, intimated that they could not entertain the grouping proposal, and that' even the highest scale offered was far and away too low Ito meet the cost of subsistence.

"The other side were careful not to commit themselves by saying that anyone could live in decency on the terms offered; but reference was made-to thet fact that a large proportion of the meru had the opportunity of won.ing overtime on Sundays and other occasions. After several adjournments, the employer* finally withdrew one of the" grouvs, but still insisted upon two—Weßingt.--iv being placed one half-penny per hour above the other centres. From this position they would not budge, nor would they offer any increase on the rates submitted in their counter-proposals, and they brought the conference to aii endby intimating that- nothing further was to be gained by prolonging the proceedings. It maybe here stated that the rates of pay offered by the employers ranged from Is Sd to Is 8d per hour, being 3d and Ad respectively short of the rates contained in the men's proposals. "The Mayor of" Wellington., made a most efficient and impartial - chairman, and there was no. attempt made'to introduce any acrimonious feeling into, the discussion, which was most orderly, throughout. It is much to be regretted, however, that the occasion was not utilised to anything like the, full extent by. the employers in endeavouring to reach a settlement, but we are to presume that they know their business best.".-