CHRISTCHURCH TRAMWAY TROUBLE

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 June 1912, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH TRAMWAY TROUBLE

MEN INDRINAix r AT BOARD’S. ACTION. SERIOUS DEVELOPMENTS ■ A NTICJ.i’ATEI). • • (BV TtXfcaRAPH.-‘--PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) .CHRISTCHURCH, June 18. The reply oi the tramway Board to the inert s demands for ail immediate improvement in their conditions has caused a good deal of indignation'among the inefnners of . the Union,, though its elici t hardly dune ad *a’ surprise. Matters seem to have, come to a crisis, and a 'strike is cfihsidered, by the man m the street, to be the; next development. The evenirti’g.sliift of the tramway workers met this rniormilg- at TO o 'clock-in-the Trades ‘Haile- . ■, • . ; , ' /The; meeting, vvhiph; was 'strictly in camera, ladled two ,and, a-haif' hours, ami the' Board’s resolution ami detailed .reply to -the ' men’s.- grievances .- were, -discussed exhaustively; - “ , ■? heveral. resolutions - were '.passed, .and these will he tt meeting of the .monjiiig shift .at eight, o’clock tonight.- - if ‘they are approved/ the lilte>of action suggested ’will be taken by 1 the ' Union Executive.

I Mr H. Hunter, secretary of the Union, informed a reporter that these resolutions were not for publication, and nntii a definite arrangement was come to by the Union he v.as unable to sa ywhat the next development would he. i VEERING TOWARDS FEDERATION. I The Tramway Union is already veering away from the Arbitration Court,* and there is a possibility that it is shaping its course towards the Federation of i Labour, which has been bolding out. • since November last, a threat to paralyse the wheels of industry.” j This increases the hkelihood of a gene- : ral strike. | The Federation’s northern Labour leaders have stated that it only wants the general support of the transport workers and it will act. It has been endeavouring to get that support for months. It wants to take its revenge for several grievances ',the Auckland labourers’ affair and the Waihi deadlock amongst GENERAL STRIKE IMMINENT. Men, who have taken a prominent part in labour matters, spoke guardedly on the subject when questioned by a reporter. They were of the opinion that the menace of a general strike is hanging oxer New Zealand. “But it won’t be for a month or txvo,” said one. “The employers would like us to strike just now, but xve knew something. Winter is not a suitable time for a strike. Something will happen in the spring. Dissatisfaction among the workers is increasing. The Government's promises for improvements have remained what they always were—rosy promises, with nothing behind them.” | SECRET BALLOT TO-MORROW. The Tramwaymen’s Union have decided to hold a secret ballot to-morrow to decide what course shall be followed. The feeling at the evening shift’s meeting to-day was not at all unanimous, so a reporter was informed. A motion was proposed, suggesting that the Union should carry out its original intention and suspend the service on ' next Monday afternoon in order to hold 1 a public meeting in Cathedral Square. 1 WAITING TILL BOARTI ELECTIONS, i

Then an amendment was proposed to the effect that no action should be taken until after the Tramway Board elections. The motion waa carried, fifty-nine members voting in favour of it,’ while only twenty-three voted for the amendment.

"We will'strike, but not for long,’’ the reporter was told, "only long enough to show that wo have some power.” It is understood that ,as an outcome of the meetings of the tramway men today and to-night the projected* strike will be deferred till after the Tramway Board elections on Thursday. BOARD NOT DISPOSED TO HIVE WAY. ANY CESSATION OF WORK REGARDED AS A STRIKE. [>T TKI.KOK APR—SPEC! AI. TO THE STAB.] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. There seems to be little doubt that the attitude of the Christchurch Tramway Board, in the present difficulty with the men, will not be changed, and everything poiiits to the fact that the Board will not be disposed to give way before (he threats of the employees. One of the managerial staff, sneaking to a reporter yesterday, stated that the Board would regard the men’s cessation of work on Monday as a strike, and would act accordingly. A reduced service could be maintained without the men by utilising the inspectors, the carshed men and several officers of the staff, who would hold motormen’s certificates. The sympathies of the inspectors are not with the men, and it is stated freely that the members of the Union are not nil agreed that the decision to stop work at 2. p.m. on Monday is wise.