THE WELLINGTON STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14906, 3 February 1912, Page 7

THE WELLINGTON STRIKE.

A FRUITLESS CONFERENCE. OFFER BY CITY COUNCIL. STRIKE COMMITTEE ACCEPT. REJECTED BY THE MEN. SOME HOPE OF SETTLEMENT. [BV TELEGRAPH.—PEEi'S ASSOCIAIION.] Wellington, Friday. The Wellington tramwaymen are still on strike. ;' _ . , At a-quarter to seven o'clock to-night a conference between representatives of the City Council and representatives of ,the Strike Committee arrived at the following basis of agreement, which had to be subknitted ..to a, meeting, of the strikers later :— v" ; ; ' ":\ (1) That Inspector Fuller be transferred at his own request to another branch of fcha service. (2) That the Council guarantee that on the resumption of work the men involved in the trouble shall not be subject to victimisation, but shall bo reinstated in their employment, without loss of status. With regard to clause, 1 it was further resolved by the Council that it be an instruction to the electrical engineer on the settlement of the dispute to have Inspector Fuller placed in a position where he will not have any:dealings. with members of. the Tramways Union. The strike delegates had a private deliberation in the Mayor's room," and subsequently they stated that they could not see their way to accept the terms without consulting the other members of the Strike Committee. They subsequently consulted their fellow-members of the committee, and came back stating their willingness to accept reluctantly the decision. They asked that they might have the use of the concert chamber for a mass meeting of the men in order that the position might be placed before them for ratification.' This request was granted. It was agreed that after the draft of the formal agreement had been submitted the matter be left in the hands of the delegates to place before their meeting. If the meeting approved then the agreement should be signed and handed to the town clerk, who should also affix his signature. The utmost care was taken to ensure that none but members of the union or of the Strike Committee should gain admittance to the concert chamber in the evening. Scouts guarded every approach to the hall, and challenged every man who came near. The meeting was very largely attended. Mr. R. Semple (organiser of the Federation of Labour) was present, but did not address the men. It was quite patent to pressman and others waiting outside that the meeting was a most enthusiastic one. Cheer after cheer could be heard, while when questions were put there was a great roar on the inside and silence on the other. The meeting lasted from eight o'clock until ten, and at the conclusion an official statement of the position was made by Mr. W. T. Young (chairman of the Strike Committee). There's no settlement, he Jeclared, adding emphatically "absolutely none.".