WELLINGTON TRAMWAY STRIKE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 436, 3 February 1912, Page 5

WELLINGTON TRAMWAY STRIKE.

MEN STLL OUT

BOTH SIDES STAND FIRM

[UV TKl.KiaiAl'll. I'KKSS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Friday

There was still no settlement of the tramway dispute when negotiations between the City Council and the Strike Committee closed at midnight last night, and, unle?s one of the two parties recedes in some substantial degree from the stand taken up, there does not appear to be any immediate prospect of settlement. The Conciliation Commissioner has been engaged since l .) a.m. yesterday endeavouring to promote a settlement, and, as the result of iiis mediations, Inspector Fuller forwarded the following letter to the City Council :-■-

"Town Clerk. Dear Sir, —In connection with Lhe tramway dispute, I desire to thank the Council for what it lias done in respect to its vindication of my character, and the position I have taken up in the matter. Unfortunately, however, circumstances have arisen which plainly indicate to me. that the position now occupied by me will he more or less untenable, and I do not wish that I should personally cause inconvenience and suffering to the public. I am quite willing to place myself unreservedly in the hands of the Council, trusting that I may he transferred to some other branch of the service, to some position that I can hold with justice to myself, satisfaction to the department, and settlement of the grave difhculty that has now arisen. In hope that the desire 1 have above expressed may meet with the approval of the Council, I have, etc. (signed), G. Fuller." Mr Young (chairman of the strike committee) announced at a mass meeting in Post Office Square to-d::y that since the trouble had commenced, an effort had been made by the Tramways Department to get a number of artillerymen to run the ears. Ho believed this application had been made to them, and that twenty-five men had offered their services if permission were obtained from the headquarters. General Godley had, however, declared that any artillerymen going to work on the tramcavs would be instantly dismissed.

A gang of men employed tarring the tramway in Cuba street were approached by Mr Ruardon (secretary of the General Labourer's Union) and directed to cease work. The men decided to obey the mandate, though they have nothing to do with the train unions.

One of the union secretaries encountered last evening, said if the Council did not back down all the. unions in Wellington would come out in support of the. tramway men. Even cooks and waiters would come out, he concluded, so that private firms would likely be involved.

The difficulty of obtaining coal, if the Council should elect to run a car service, is said to have inclined some Councillors to the view that no attempt should be made to run the cars while the strike continues.

Some twenty-five men have been appointed to carry out a system of peaceful picketing. The men arc enthusiastic and firm in their intention to stand out till a proper settlement is arrived at with the Council. COUNCIL AGREES TO FULLER'S TRANSFERENCE. Wellington, Last Night. At 12 o'clock to-day the City Council Committee and representatives ol the Strike Committee were still in conference discussing a proposed settlement of thy strike. It is understood at this stage that the Council as a whole is prepared to concede as a maximum the transference of Inspector Fuller, but the strikers' idea of securing indemnity is not entertained. WELLINGTON WALKS WEARILY. Wellington, This Day. The tram strike continues. The conference between the Council representatives and tramwaymen sat nearly all day, finally arriving at a basis of settlement. This was submitted to a mass meeting- of men who after two hours' deliberations objected, not to terms of settlement, brt to the wording of it. The agreement stated that Inspector Fuilor would be transferred "tit his own request.'' These four words have hung up the tram service for a further period. The Council's delegates decided yesterday to accept Fulier's request for a transfer, but declined absolutely to agree to the demand for an indemnity against legal prosecutions following the strike. The delegates agreed there should be no victimisation.

A lot of talk is heard about the extension of the strike to kindred organisations. It has been mentioned that the wharf labourers may come out at any time and be followed by the electric light puvvor station bands. There is to be a mass meeting of men and sympathisers at the iSasin Reserve to-morrow afternoon.

A strong league is being formed to strengthen the hands of the Council, citizens of all classes joining the league. It has beer, determined to do the utmost to obtain the services of men who will see the city's executive through in the present difficulty. In the meantime Wellington walks lyDUNEDIN MEN SATISFIED. Dunedin, Thursday. The Dunedin tramwaymen, who are working under a new arrangement, are perfectly satisfied with their advantage. They regard the Wellington strike as purely a local affair. The local union so far has not received any request for financial support for the Wellington strikers.