THE LATE TRAMWAY STRIKE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1057, 2 June 1892, Page 15

THE LATE TRAMWAY STRIKE.

The Trades and Labour Council has issued a manifesto in connection with the recent tramway strike. It states that it was with regret that the Council declared the strike at an end. This action was taken principally in the interests of those of the public who had -put themselves to inconvenience in condemnation of the [causes which led to the strike, viz., an agreement with the Council deliberately broken, and a reduction in wages in ten in? stances. From the first the actions of the Council had been greatly hampered through a want of funds, appeals made for support to Union bodies, with a few honourable exceptions, bringing votes of sympathy in preference to monetary aid.. It would be remembered that at the beginning of the strike the Council announced its intention to raise a fund to establish ’busses in opposition to the tramway. A gentleman who professes friendship to the labour cause expressed his willingness to advance the money necessary, and satisfactory terms recommended by him were arranged with the directors of the ’Bus Company. Information was obtained as to where and at what price -suitable plant could be purchased, and application was then made to the gentleman in question for the necessary funds, hut up to the present time these have not been received, although a fortnight has been wasted in dealing with quibbles and objections in connection with such application. On Friday, the 13th inst., it became necessary to inform this ‘friend’ of the labour cause that unless the money was forthcoming by Monday, the 16th inst., negotiations were to be considered at an end. Thelfinal proposal, to which no reply satisfactory to the Council had been received, was as follows: —That the gentleman referred to should advance the necessary amount, on security of the plant to he p irchased, at 6 per cent per annum, the plant to be leased to the ’Bus Company on the hire-purchase system, and the individual members of the Council to hear each his share of a third o any loss that might ensue on account of a failure on the part of the Compinv to complete the purchase. The Council desired to place on record the courteous and obliging mantier in which it was met by the directors of the Co operative ’Bus Company. ,