TRAMS AND WAGES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6488, 7 April 1908, Page 5

TRAMS AND WAGES

TICK EMPLOYEES’ DEMANDS. CHARGES OF “ INSPIRATION.” J Tiro PRESS NOT WANTED. A deputation representing the Tramways I'nion waited upon the Tramways Committee of tho City Council yesterday to further negotiate as to tho terms of employment on the part of the men, in consequence of tho now demands filed by tho union. Tho MAYOR, chairman of tho committed of tho Council, stated that, after tho first conference was finished, the Council’s committee was under tho impression that it was to report to the Council and then meet tho union's representatives and discuss the maU ter again. That had been their policy right from the start. They had formed no clear opinion on the matter, but, later on, tho decision was to bo sent to tho union.

Mr W. T. VOt -VO, secretary of tho union, admitted that this was the understanding, but, naturally, on receiving certain documents from the Council, Ho had concluded that they contained tho definite conclusions of the committee.

-MEMBERS A LITTLE SORE. The MAY r OR: X think that in all these matters, whore we are trying to avoid the possibility of friction and to be reasonable, wo expect you people to bo reasonable as well as members of the committee. (.This was with reference to statements made by Mr Young to a press representative in an interview.) After rending the whole of the communications some of the members felt a little sore about the tone of part of them, and I hope w© axe not going to have anything like that feeling, because it would interfere with the negotiations. Mr YOUNG; So far as I am concerned, X »m here in a very friendly mood.

Councillor SHITITCLUTTv, referring to tho interview, asked whether the last paragraph thereof represented tho feelings of the nocrotary or tho feelings of tho members of tho union? Mr YOUNG: The last paragraph said, “and I think that if they are not prepared to concede anything further there will bo serious trouble.” Councillor Si i'IRTCLI! ; ITi: I think it is very undesirable, as long as wo aro trying to negotiate this thing in an amicable spirit, that anything in the nature of a threat should bo held out. We have shown that wo are prepared to consider your views as favourably ns possible. When I read tho report of tho interview with Mr Young I felt soro that he should have held out a definite threat against tho committee. X hope ho will say now that he had no intention of doing so, because it is not a wise thing to say that if the committee does not do a certain thing there will be serious trouble. NO THREAT INTENDED.

Hr YOUNG: It was not intended as a throat by myself, but I knew that tho communication from the committee was considered by 174. of the members of tho union, and that they were very much put out when they found out what the committee was prepared to give them. The statement was not intended as a threat. WAS If INSPIRED?

Continuing, Mr YOUNG said; In regard to newspaper matters generally' something appeared in the “ Times ’’ this morning which seems to me to have been inspired—it being inserted on the morning of this conference. It is not a fair comparison of tho position, and probably was put in with the intention of misleading members of tho committee, the City Council, and the public generally. ( The MAYOR: Nothing has been published with the authority of the committee.

Mr YOUNG: I am not saying'that, bub it appears to me as if the information supplied had been given by somebody connected with the Tramways Department—as if somebody had compiled the comparative statement and got it inserted in tho “Times” purposely on the morning of the conference. As a matter of fact, to show how misleading it was, it says track men earn £2 Us 6d, whereas they only earn £2 5a for six days in a week of forty-five hours.

Tho MAYOR; I think it is a pity anything should have been distributed at all.

REPORTERS OBJECTED TO.

Mr YOUNG suggested that representatives of the press bo asked to witbdrnav, as the conference could proceed without the presence of reporters. Tho recent Seamen’s Conference had most (stringently excluded the press, and he believed that had it not done so a satisfactory arrangement would not have been come to.

Tho MAYOR: We (the committee) had considerable difficulty in coming to a conclusion ourselves as to whether reporters ! should be admitted, and what, actuated us in deciding to permit them to attend was that evidently they had got hold of one part of the question. Still, in deference to the wishes of the deputation, tho committee might review its decision with regard to reporters. Councillor SHIRTCMFFB; On the Understanding that no further interviews are published until the matter is settled one way or the other. I do not think it right that Mr Young should allow himself to be interviewed and give his side of the case before tho matter has reached a conclusion.

Mr YOUNG; I unreservedly accept the explanation of the Mayor, and tho explanation conveyed to Us by the acting-Town Clerk that tho document sent to us was not definite.

Tho MAYOR: I think that in future untile you know that a document is definite yem might' ring us up, and ask ua whether we are sticking to the arrangement or not-

Mr YOUING: AH right. The Tramways Committee then decided to take tho proceedings in camera, and the reporters withdrew. The demands of the union were further considered in committee by tho conference, but nothing final was agreed upon, and no announcement made as to the result of tho deliberations.