TRAMWAYMEN'S DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17360, 6 January 1920, Page 4

TRAMWAYMEN'S DISPUTE.

AFFAIRS IN CHRISTCHURCIH.

PROSPECT OF SETTLEMENT.

FBI TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH. Mond* 3 '. Though rumours are current regarding a possible " go-slow" strike on the part of the Chrislchurch tram way men, such reports are characterised by the Tramwaymen's Union as gross exaggerations. The tramway award here has expired, and owing to the failure of the. conference recently held in Wellington, the Tramway Board has invited the' local union to a conference M frame a new award. The men were unable to accept this invitation, as, owing to having joined the federated union, no local or sectional agreement could be discussed. The board then cited the workers before the Arbitraticn Court to have ajresh award registered. The board is at present paying the men an extra penny an hour in terms of the recommendation, recently put forward by the Court, to help meet the extra cost of living, and will pay the extra penny until a new agreement is entered into. At a meeting yesterday the union agreed to ask the board to meet a deputation with a view to a satisfactory agreement being drawn up as early as possible, any proposal coming from the conference' to be subject to ratification by the federation before being accepted by the union. The Hon. John Barr, chairman of the Tramway Board, states that he is confident that a mutual agreement'will be speedily arrived at. The relations between the board and the union are amicable.