TRAMWAY GRIEVANCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13483, 9 May 1907, Page 7

TRAMWAY GRIEVANCES.

COMPANY'S CASE OPENED. , WHAT THE MEN'S/DEMANDS v . MEAN. INCREASED COST OF £16,230 PER ANNUM. . • hearing of the industrial dispute between the Auckland Electric Tramways Employees' Union and the' Auckland Electric Tramways Company, Ltd., was con-, tinued before the Arbitration Court yesterday. Mr. Arthur Rosser, associated with Messrs- R. Breen (of Dunedin) and P. C. Buckley (president of the union), appeared in support of the men's case. - Mr. W. Scott, of Dunedin, appeared for the comDr. J- Manly, called by Mr. Rosser, stated that the effect of protracted stand* in« on the part of a man in a motorman's position was to produce varicose veins. If seats were provided as the men asked this - ( tendency would be done away with. If he were a motorman he would like to see class fronts provided on the cars as a protection from the weather. ,To Mr. Scott: He thought that constant peering through glass was less injurious to • a motorman's eyesight than dust and wet weather. He had heard that varicose reins were very prevalent among people in '■ . New Zealand. . , .» Dr. Keith gave similar evidence. Mr. Rosser stated that he had endeavoured to get Mi'. Young, secretary of the Wellington Tramways Union, to be pre-, '.'•" sent, but had been unable to do so. He had, however, got an affidavit signed by. Mr. Young before a justice of the peace, and he wished to put this in as evidence. Mr. Scott objected on the ground that lie had not had an opportunity of crossiWtamining Mr. Young; - ' ; The Court upheld, the objection, and - isu r " T estcd that they should take Mr. ' ' • Young's evidence when they sat in Wei-

liington. .■■ "' ■■''/■• "■■;' Mr. Rosser said he would not trouble •the Court to do this, and closed the case.

THE CASE FOR THE COMPANY. Mr. Scott, in opening the case for the company, drew attention to the improved conditions, under electric traction, as compared with the old horse car days. On the latter, drivers were paid 40s for A week of 60 hours, or at the rate of 8d per '. hoar, while the conductors only received from 20s to 31s. per week, or on an average 5d per hour. The work of a conductor on an electric car was, no dotibt, a little more arduous, but he received 100 per cent, more for it. When the last dis- • pute was heard the men > who were transferred into the company's service from the t horse cars, testified to the better conditions existing all round, and said that they ■ would not like to go back to the old order of things. On starting the electric system , ■ .Mr. Hansen reduced the hours of work and increased the wages of conductors to ■ 42s per week, and of motormen to 48s per 3reek. The Court on making its award in 1904 made no alteration in the rate of pay- " mat per hour. This award was only . made for one y&ar, and the men were apparently satisfied with it, as no application .was made for a fresh - award * until some time after.it had expired. This discontent, he contended, was brought about by an agreement which was arrived at in WelEngton. Just before the general election five members of the Wellington City Council stood for the House of Representa,"'y- tives, and the tramway men seized the opportunity to demand extra pay. The :'■ suit was that £6000 extra per annum was loaded on the Wellington system, when it was not paying. He contended that this was a political agreement. As soon as it -,r,. : * was &iax&L#LJUi^ was. general ,discon T i.sa 4 ,, 'iiaong the other tramway employees' throughout the colony. , The Auckland men then demanded similar conditions. , Mr. Slater: When did the men approach the company? Mr. Kosser: In August; the agreement' was mads in October.