TRAMWAY TROUBLE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10107, 22 October 1918, Page 4

TRAMWAY TROUBLE

CHRISTCHURCH CARS RUNNING late; Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, October 21. The largest meeting of the Christchurch Tramway Employees' Union since the formation of the union was held in the small' hours of Sunday morning. As an outcomo of discussion of the board's reply to a request for increased wages, it was decided that a conference with the board was unnecessary, and it was resolved to ask the board to grant increases from to-day. It was also resolved that, starting today, members of the union should adhere strictly to the instructions contained in the Rule Book and weekly budget issued by the board to employees. - The secretary explained to a reporter that hitherto the employees had succeeded in keeping trams to schedule time by individual and unauthorised expedients, but in future the rules and regulations would be adhered to, and running to schedule time would be a secondary consideration.

The slow running of tramcars to-day |in accordance with the rules disorgan(isad every,, time-tahje, and ,pars;,.; were running as much as twenty minutes behind time on,the longer runs like ±tici'caxton, Sumner, and Papanui. Thin was very "inconvenient'for* passengers, who'rclied on keeping b'usihoss"j£ppoint ments, but the public so far is takinf;, the new order qf things with equanimity. ■:' -,!,' The Tramway Board held its usua-, fortnightly meeting this afternoon, 'buii the men's demands or the' trouble axis;ing out of them was not mentioned .izi open meeting. It is understood tho position is being considered by th<i board sitting in camera as a works committee ■'■' " "'"'". ■ ~'*'

The general manager of the tramways has written to the secretary of the Tramways Union again urging the advisability of holding a conference or. the questions in dispute. He "Conference proceedings would enable information as to the extent of the risi..in the cost of living since last year.--.tcs --.- bo fully ascertained. The statistics ---. used by Labour advocates in Wellington - show that the cost of living is consider,• ably less in, Christcjam-ch tha,n,.in .Wolj lington, which point could ba niorij.j, satisfactorily discussed round th<i' table.',' In reyiy to the statement o : ' tho union that the weekly- earnings o: conductors are £2 13s only, the general manager says tho records show that tho earnings ranga from £3 10s to £4 3s 4<l (including overtime), and those of mo-V tormen from £3 lis lid to £4 10s id.