STRIKE THREAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23012, 13 April 1938, Page 21

STRIKE THREAT

MELBOURNE TRAMWAYS EASTER TRADE MENACED 44-HOUR WEEK DEMAND [from our own correspondent] MELBOURNE, April 7 Melbourne faces the threat of disruption of Easter shopping through tho tactics of tramway employees in their demand for a reduction of tho working ing week from 4S to 44 hours. Tho last disorganisation occurred nearly four years ago, when the tramwnymen struck on the eve of the centenary celebrations, and Melbourne was without tram services for several days. It remains to be seen whether the present disaffection will lead to the extreme step of a strike. The executive of the Tramway Employees' Association has placed the following proposed courses of action before a special meeting of members:— (1) That, unless the Tramways Board grants the 44-hour week with the maintenance of existing wages and penalty rates before that date, a stopwork meeting be held on Thursday, April 14 and a demonstration to the Premier, Mr. A. A. Dunstan, be arranged. (2) That, unless the board grants the 44-hour week, the rules and regulations be observed strictly on Thursday, April 14, and in the meantime the union officers wait on the Premier with a view to urging tho Ministry to use its position to have the demand satisfied. (.3) That members employed in the tramway workshops (who have a 44hour week) be not involved in any action taken at present. Dislocating Time Schedules

If the "regulation strike" is enforced on Thursday Easter shoppers will be seriously inconvenienced. Such a strike will be based t on irritation tactics. Trams will not start until all passengers are seated and if an intending passenger is sighted some distance away the tram will await his arrival. Thus time schedules will be thrown out of gear and it will be impossible to maintain the normal headway. Probably long lines of trams will be banked up in busy streets as a result. In deciding to approach the Premier the men obviously hope to capitalise the unusual political situation in tho State. The Country Party Ministry depends for its existence on the Labour Party, and it is likely that Labour members will seek to exert pressure in support of the tramwaymen. Last year, when the stay-in strike of gas employees occurred, tho Ministry was most reluctant to intervene for fear of offending its Labour supporters. Heavy Cost of Shorter Hours

The Tramway Board maintains that its financial position will not permit it to bear the added costs of a shorter week. The cost of the shortened hours is estimated at £90,000 a year. This amount, added to the increase in wages since July 1, 1936, would make an aggregate outlay of £276,000 annually.

Revenue has fallen because of the infantile paralysis epidemic, now almost passed. The board contends that it would be impossible to grant the men's request without increasing fare?. The point has been made by the men that large statutory payments are made by the board for other purposes, such as the maintenance of the fire fighting forces. But this issue is one apart from the control of the board, which has. repeatedly protested to the Ministry against being compelled to make such extraneous payments.

WINDSOR CASTLE ALTERATIONS IN HAND IMPROVED GOLF COURSE [rROJI OUR OWN correspondent] LONDON, March 20 Minor alterations carried out in the private apartments at Windsor Castle include the redeeoration of the King's suite, a general modernisation of the lighting system, and tlio introduction of several extra bathrooms. Other changes include the closing of the Castle Hill Gate and the roadway which ran from Castle Hill to the private grounds. The massive iron ornamental gates have been removed, and the road ploughed up and planted with shrubs. This road was constructed early in the reign of Queen Victoria, but has been little used during the last 25 years. The private golf course at the castle has also been improved.

HAIR CAUSES DEATH FATE OF A COUNTESS TRAGEDY AT BRIGHTON [from our own correspondent] LONDON, March 20 The story of a countess who, although wealthy, lived alone and feared intruders so much that she kept a revolver and always had the door of her flat secured by a stout chain, was told at a Brighton inquest. The woman, lime. Eugenie de Parravicini, had said that she was an Italian countess and the widow of a political agent, Stefano Annoni de Parravicini. Very few people, and never any women, were allowed in the flat in Montpelier Crescent. In spite of her 84 years, Mine, de Parravicini retained traces of beauty, and went about the Hat with her hair hanging almost to her waist. It was her beautiful hair, coupled with the fact that , she chose to cook a meal over a gas ring at three o'clock in the morning, that led to her death. As she bent down to pick up the frying pan her hair brushed the lighted gas and burst into flames. She was severely burnt about the la r- e and head, and died a week later. The verdict was "Death by misadventure."

AFRICAN BUSH FIRES PLANTATIONS DEVASTATED MANY SQUARE MILES SWEPT [from OUE OWN CORRESrONDKN'r] CAPETOWN, March 7 The Cape Peninsula has experienced one of the worst summers on record for bush fires, which have devastated many 'Square miles of plantations-and indigenous growth on the mountain slopes. One fire, which lasted 20 hours, swept afonp: the' Constantiaberg and destroyed thousands of valuable fullygrown trees in the Government plantations. A violent south-easter added to the difficulties of the 500 boaters engaged in trying to keep the fire under control. On the Gamps Bay side of the peninsula a bush fire spread to within a few feet of. the bungalows fringing the beaches.