TRAM DISPUTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23325, 19 April 1939, Page 12

TRAM DISPUTE

STOPPAGE AVERTED A NEW TIMETABLE SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE ATTITUDE OF GOVERNMENT [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] DUNEDIN, Tuesday A stoppage of all city tiaras was threatened last night following a dispute over a new timetable, which itj was alleged by the union waa too fast. However, at the last moment the union intimated that a proposed stop, work meeting had been abandoned, and the tramways committee arranged to meet the men this morning, when the dispute was amicably settled. It is understood that a delicate situation was averted as the result of departmental intervention. During the afternoon Mr. J. S. Hunter, of the Labour Department, Wellington, arrived by aeroplane, conveying a message from the Minister' of Labour,, Hon. P. C. Webb, that the Government Would view gravely a persistence in tho strike intention, but that tho Government was prepared to do what it could for tho men.

Misunderstandings Removed The union's grievance was that the new service was too fast, increased jnotor traffic preventing the cars running to time and also giving; no spare time between runs and cutting down the meal time. ' ' { ' The conference this morning was one of some duration, but all ithe points at issue' were fully discussed and all misunderstandings removed. The conference was characterised *by the best of feeling on both sides. The final outcome was that the 12minute service instituted on the St. Clair, Kormanby and Anderson's BayGardens! routes will be extended to 15 minutes. By the adoption of this altered schedule, the council will continue to economise in running costs. The alteration to the running of the cars on these lines will come into operation on Thursday week. Guarantee to Union It was stated that the council had given union officials a definite guarantee to make every endeavour not to dismiss any of the staff. If, alter making every endeavour to retain its present staff, it found it could riot do "bo, the council had further agreed not to dispense with the services of any eiiployees without first holding a conference with the union;.