TRAMWAY STRIKE COSTS

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 24 May 1932, Page 7

TRAMWAY STRIKE COSTS

LOSSES IN CHRISTCHURCH. BUSINESS AND WAGES. The cost of the tramway strike cannot. be computed, states die “Christchurch Star.” Apart from the loss of ivages to the men, the loss of revenue to the .board and the loss to employers who. had freed their men for duty with, the temporary police, there is a bigger loss still—the community loss. During the period of the strike retail shop takings shrank. Women AA-ere nervous about riding in' the trams, and for days little but essential shopping Arts done. Even the protective wire screens on the trains did hot completely restore confidence. The result has been that business houses lost tliouauds of pound. ........ The nevA’s that the strike Avas ov-er had an immediately beneficial effect. Business is again brisk and with the confidence engendered by the knowledge that there is no danger to passengers, many who had not been in the city for a fortnight are trying to catch up on relayed shopping. The Tramways Board has not yet started to compute its losses. The general manager, Mr. Frank Thompson, said that the officers of the board had been too busy keeping the service operating to delve into statistics. The same state of affairs wouid prevail for a day or two, for there was a great deal of Avork to be done in re-eiigagmg the men and restoring the full service. It has been estimated, however, that the board’s loss is considerable. With no night services and fewer passengers r'on the, day cars ticket revdnue. must ! lihve shrunk greatly.. It fs, known that ’the sale of concession tickets Imre decreased considerably, as many business people either walked or relied on being brought to the city by friends. One man has computed this loss as at least £ISOO. The board has also been put to considerable expense in protecting its property and its services and this would run into, it' is considered, at least £SOO. , , , The men, on the other hand, have lost between £I6OO and £2OOO m wan-es. Iff the ordinary course ot events this money goes into circulation within a week of the men’s -pay-day, arid, again, the community haS lost a considerable amount. . Additional expense lias also been incurred by the Justice Department in meeting the emergencies of the situai tion. Additional jwlice have been employed,; large overtitne bills have been ; incurred, and' transport costs have . been very . heavy. ...