WORK AND WAGES.

Evening Star, Issue 12965, 9 November 1906, Page 4

WORK AND WAGES.

TP. AM WAY TROUBLES. [Special to the Stab.] AUCKLAND, November 9. A tramway employees’ trouble which has been brewing for some time appears to have come to a head. A statement made in n telegram from Dunedin, which made it, appear that the Dunedin tramway award would apply to the whole colony, seems to have agitated the minds of some of the local employees, although they are not affected by the Southern award, and are at present working under an award which remains in force until superseded by another. When the terms of the Southern award were known, someone wrote his opinion, couched in no complimentary terms, with a charred match on a window in one of the tramway company’s bu.ld.ngii. One of the conductors was accused of tins, and though lie made an emphatic denial of the authorship or knowledge of the writing, lie was dismissed. This action appears to have raised the intensity of the men's discontent to such a state that many of the employees advocated a strike on the .King's Birthday in order to gain their c? a;. ForInnately wiser counsels prevailed, and it was shown that legislation forbids any combination of persons attempting to evade or defeat an award of the Arbitration Court, or to promote a strike or lock-out. A mass meeting of employees was called for yesterday morning and evening to consider the question, fn the morning the members of one shift were present to the number of ninety-one. The man dismissed slated his case to the meeting, and reiterated his denial of any connection with the authorship of the opinion on the Dunedin award. Another conductor was dismissed in consequence of a complaint made by a paisengcr. The following resolutions wore unanirnoii iy ajrccd to;—(1) “That this meeting respectfully ask the company to hold further inquiries into the dismissal of the. two eoiiduetois named, as the unanimous opinion of the men is Unit they are not guilty of tho conduct which led to their dismissal.” (2) "That an answer be itspectluily requested by Monday next at 10 a.m., fa ling which the Trades and Labor Council will be asked to take up the matter.” An opinion was further expressed that tho friction that is existing at the present moment is owing to the want of tact tin tho part of a certain officer of the company. The day-shift men mot ul night and confirmed tho action of those who attended the morning mooting. Mr Hansen, manag.ng director of the company. denies that the conductor in question was.dismissed on account of the, writing on tho window. He states that his denial of the authorship of this was accepted, and that his dismissal wax decided upon on entirely different grounds.

THE ARBITRATION COURT. Before the Arbitration Court at Wellington yesterday several cases were brought against clothiers for breaches of section 7 of the tailors' award. This section provides that all bespoke work must be done on the premises of the employer for whom the order is taken. As a result of these proceedings fines of £5 each were imposed on C. Smith, Duncan and MTntosh, the D.T.C., and Walsh and Co. For underpayment, S. Siegel (employer) was lined £s' and J. M. Steiner (employee) 10s %