STRIKE IN MELBOURNE

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 94, 18 October 1934, Page 13

STRIKE IN MELBOURNE

MEN INSIST ON EXTRA PAY

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Coiled I'ress Association—By Electric Telo^

Krapli—Copyright.

MELBOURNE, October.l 7.

By a four-fifllis majority, the tramway employees today adopted their executives-recommendation for a strike and will not resume until their plaims for 2s a. day extra, pay and improved working conditions aro conceded.

A committee was appointed to control strike activities. Depots are being established to provide- food and relief to traniwaynien and their dependants, and assistance is being sought from affiliated unions.

Melbourne has now been without trams for 24 hours, and people are adapting themselves to the circumstances, the Government emergency bus* services and railways proving ample for all traffic requirements for the time being. Tho chairman' of iho Tramways Board emphasises that to grant the men's demands would involve a permanent increase in expenditure of £163,000 a year, which would necessitate increased fares.

A special meeting of tlic Stato Cabinet this afternoon discussed the position and arranged for special police protection in the -city and suburbs in the event of disturbances synchronising with the Duke's arrival.

The Tramways Board also held a special meeting and decided that those tramwaymen prepared to resume duty should notify the board not later than Friday, after which the board would take steps to recruit men and reestablish the tram service.

It is understood that a moderate section at this morning's tramway meeting were opposed to a strike, declaring that it would completely alienate public sympathy at the present time.,

It is also reported that any attempt to recruit volunteer labour for the trams will lead to an extension of the strike to power-house employees, thus stopping electric. trains.

The result of the strike tomorrow, when the Duke arrives, should not be serious on account of the fact that the tramways are usually suspended on the occasion of great processions. People will be able to reach tho route of the Royal progress by train and emergency buses. The tramwaymen meet again on Friday morning.