STRIKE APPEARS CERTAIN

Evening Star, Issue 21092, 3 May 1932, Page 10

STRIKE APPEARS CERTAIN

THE TRAMWAYS DISPUTE FIFTY VOLUNTEERS APPLY MAYOR TO INTERVIEW BOARD [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, May 3. The tramwaymeu and the board have still failed to reach an agreement, and a tram strike to-morrow appears certain. Strike or no strike, there will be a service to-morrow, declare board officials. Fifty applications have been received from volunteers, many of whom are said to bo competent. “ There is no truth in the allegation that the Tramway Board, would welcome a strike as a means of crushing the union," declared Mr E. H. Andrews, chairman of the board. “We recognise the men’s right to have a union, but we do not recognise their right to tell the board how to run the trams.” If there is a strike to-morrow the officials state that the service will of necessity be’a shortened one, and details as to the time-table will be published at the earliest possible moment. The union officials state that the men are firm, and are not alarmed by the board’s threats. The board will meet the mayor and deputy-mayor this afternoon to discuss the situation, which is causing a certain amount of anxiety, in view of the possibility of the trouble spreading. It was reported at noon that a section of the men show signs of weakening, and that this is the reason why the mayor is intervening in the dispute, having been asked to interview the board with a view to reopening negotiations so that a settlement can be reached On the other hand, the union officials say .that the revoking of the decision to- strike was not even considered at a meeting of the men this morning, and that the men who go out will not hand in their equipment this evening as demanded by the board.