TRAMWAY GRIEVANCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13482, 8 May 1907, Page 8

TRAMWAY GRIEVANCES.

MEN'S CASE CONCLUDED. "HARDEST « WORKED; IN AUSTRALASIA." The hearing of the "industrial-dispute between the ■ Auckland .Electric x Tramways Employees'; Union and the, Auckland Elec- ; trie Tramways Company, Limited, . was resumed- before, the Arbitration Court yesterday morning.. Mr.; A. Rosser,\ associated with Messrs. ; P. "C.\ Buckley (president of the union) and R. Breen (of Dunedin), appeared in 'support of the men's case. Mr. ■W. Scoft * of,;Dunedin, '% appeared for the company. - Further vevidence-v.was called in support of the'men's case. Clarence ,W. Smith,' motorman, stated that he was on the spare list for 20 months before he got on to the regular running. His wages as- spare list "man-averaged £1 5s per week. " He was now earning £2 10s per week. In; regard to signing men off while waiting in -connection with athletic and other' gatherings, witness stated that on one occasion he worked 15 hours ,for nine hours' pay. , To 'Mr. Scott: Including Sundays, his average \ earnings . as spare list motorman amounted to £2 2s per week. ' : : Peter Smith, formerly a motorman in the company's, employ, :stated - that in. consequence of .seats, being provided for motormen on the cars , he; had eventually to give up Iris post. ,-He.was suffering from severe pains" in the. legs ■ at the time, and believed that but for - the-.-change varicose veins would have resulted..:' ; - To Mr. Scott: His wages; as motorman averaged £2 10s per week. ;-,-■['■ He was now working nine hours and a-half a day for £2 5s per week, but ho preferred the latter employment to that on the cars. ; Charles Henry Gutry, 7 nioto"rman, said that, since he had been on the cars varicose veins had developed in his left leg. He was not prepared, however, to "swear, that this was due to his work.> , William George Bassett, formerly an inspector for the company, stated that .he had since been working in a similar capacity on : the ; Christchurch Corporation tramways. The cars there were provided with glass' fronts, vhich protected the motormen from bad weather, and he saw ho reason why similar fronts should not be provided here. There was no spare list in Christchurch, and the men consequently were in a better position. " -'■ Several ex-motormen and , -conductors also gave evidence. ■ James Mills, switchman, said he was formerly a motorman, and was now suffering from varicose veins. He knew several men who had left the .service because ofthis trouble. He . worked . on the old, horse cars, as a driver for a considerable period, and preferred- the work there to that of a motorman under present conditions. :*-.; ;;-,?".; Frank Eveleigh, motorman, stated that on one occasion he worked for nine hours wet through. If glass ' fronts were provided on cars this would be obviated. . Thomas Beaston, ex-conductor, considered that the remuneration given, to conductors was too little. They were never credited with " overs," but " shortages" were always deducted. He recently paid a visit to Australia, and went over the car systems 'there..,-,. As a result of his visit he was of opinion that th» Auckland conductors ; were = the , hardest worked in . Australasia. ';.'■;, In Sydney seats were provided for motormen, ', w,hile : in Melbourne '.. seats were provided for both motormen and conductors. ;■ ' ■ ' Frank Lancaster, fireman, at the powerhouse, considered - that the union's demand for 9s a day for firemen was just. They had great difficulty in getting up steam with, the fuel supplied, which consisted of all sorts of rubbish— bonedust, rotten potatoes, and a very fine coal, which would run. through the finest sieve. ;.The. firemen also, had to-work two out pf every, three Sundays,- and as i they had-to work every other* day of. the year, : including Good Friday, he held that they should at least get seven days': holiday a year on full pay. ,/:',,.'..:-' ' - ' Peter Nicholson, another fireman, gave,, corroborative evidence. , • John Glynn, motorman, who had * been nine years with .the company, as driver on the old horse cars and ; subsequently as motorman, said: he did not wish to remain a motorman all his life, and he had applied for a Government appointment, "because on medical, examination it was found that ho had varicose veins, and that an, operation would cost i £5 ss, ; and * other; expenses would amount to £13 13s. . He considered that if motormen were provided with seats they would not suffer as he had' done. A glass front to the cars was indispensable to motormen, minimising the risk 'of' accident, resulting from the vision being .obscured..by; rain or dust.. The union was justified in asking for an increased wage. '. ','.--■ .':*£.•.] Cross-examined, witness said ho did hot. know how motormen fared -in America," Canada,' and Great Britain ■in '•;■ winter weather with no glass fronts to their cars. ■ William Kirkwood, motorman, agreed .in the main with the evidence ; already given. Thomas Turner, pitman, receiving 8s 6d a day of eight hours, said 9s was a fair thing for the work he did. John Osborne, car cleaner; said r his work was wet; and dirty. He received 7s a>. shift, night: work. -.:■-;,. Albert Sopwith, pitman, Henry. Ludgate, William Richardson, John Grant, , trackmen, also gave evidence. Patrick Buckley, motorman, president of the union, formerly in the employ of the Melbourne Tramway Company as .gnpman, said that seats were provided for drivers and conductors on the Melbourne cars, and they were most beneficial. He had assisted to draw up the demands/which he considered reasonable. The Melbourne Company allowed a book of 50 passes, valued at 3d each, per month, and conveyed its (imployeesto and from their work when in; uniform. . Motormen and conductors in Auckland '■■' had a much harder time than those similarly employed in Wellington... Cross-examined, witness said he beaeved that the Auckland Tramways Company formerly allowed its motormen and conductors , to travel free, till some of them got drunk, and the privilege was withdrawn. Arthur Rosser, secretary of the union, said he believed the total., membership of the union was 215. - The case for .the men here closed, with the exception of medical evidence, which Mr. Rosser said he would call to-day. The Court;adjourned until ten a.m. today. - ; ;."- ■; ", _ THE' WELLINGTON TRAMWAYS. GREAT DEMAND FOR EMPLOYMENT. [BY - TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Tuesday. , In response to the great demand for employment ■as conductors on the electric tramways, the authorities have announced that no vacancies will occur until August. The applicants already on the books appear to be mostly a good class of men. The advantage of this kind of employment is that it is permanent during good behaviour, ensuring regular work and regular pay. The fact that a motorman can earn on an average £3 or £3 2s 6d per week during the year and a conductor £2 15s has tempted even tradesmen to try to enter the service. Motormen, however, are recruited from the ranks of the corporation's other employees. V; ".: - -: • •