TRAMWAYS TROUBLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17504, 21 December 1918, Page 8

TRAMWAYS TROUBLE

BAT.TiOT IH" PATOOR OP STRIKE.

The go-easy policy -was in fall swing an the trams yesterday. Tho ballot which was taken yesterday : passed off quietly. The result was announced to tho men at half-past 6 by Mr T." D. * Browett, of tho Labour Department, as follows:

"Votes. .For. a strike _ 180 Against a strike „ _ _ 14•k Trrf-orrretl, 1L

Tho union has a membership of 208, of 205 voted. In the conduct of the ballot Mr Browett and Mr IT. Barton represented tho Labour Department, and Messrs R. Stater and C. 31. Watson acted as scrutineers for tho tramwaymen -Thelaw requires thai, in the event of a ballot , being in favour of a strike, cach saa& shall individually give 14 days' notice to ( the employ or. ThCTe has been some difference' "of opinion as to the length of Bgtice required, but Mr P. J. o"Regan, of. advises the workers that 14 days notice is necessary.

" AGAINST . _, s . . ~ OOUNdLLOE^." -:fv •- ■■ TO THE EDITOB.

t no indication is given of'-tho identity of tho offenders in the tramywajy employees' grievance against city coun-ctuacs-.as reported, in your paper tJiio mnrn. ■*?' too charge well or ill founded? Is it, or is it not, an attempt to intimidate coun®3lf?rs. who are doing, their best ib the in- , tajjesti of the citizens.- as a wholef Briefly, opinion that the offer of the trarnis, in view of all the cjroum- • stances, fair and reasonable. To grant the furthar increase that has been demanded ."would be to place an undue burden on all /-.other workers, because the cost of tickets would perforce have to be still further raiSsdr '' Tho council's offer entails a rise in : cost of and, of course, to concede extra demand, would mean still .ojOi a cost. The- other alternative is an jliicrease in the city rates. v oo ' a Personal question with coun:v<alk>ra.v -dearly it is more a question between a small section of the workers on -tho ono part and the greater number of - ,ijft?ri;Ms ,cm tho other, part.—l am, etc., 3 { „ JOHN Irumi.' l Dunedin, Dcccmber 20. FOR A SEZTLEMEM 1 . TO THE EDITOB.

Sib,—As a fairly large ratepayer, paying £40 per year in direct rates, and a -fairly frequent user of the teams, I , am ...in tore; ted in tlio problem which faces -. oar traffio manager. As an employer cf labour, ;Jor some 30 years, I have found by •experience.. thai a dissatisfied servant is of ncj-.tservice -\ either to himself or his mi..Therefore my aim has been, aa /..far as possible, to have satisfied employees. I< u3ually r - find that if an employe© is well -gires his best service. ■' would appear that the tramway ,«mployees at_ the present time are any- /, thing 1 but satisfied. I know that the manning of the trams so as to give saidsfao...tiooto the employer, employee, and the public generally involves a fairly difficult . problem. Yet I think there is a solution to the- difficulty. Would it not be postable to have sufficient men to man the '.taiups., so that each man could work the ; ordinary eight hours per day—four hours ~at a shift, with a lunch hour of either half ; : an hour or one hour,—the men to work 48 . .hours per week, those employed on Simj days for four hours to make up the balca'rtte 40 hours during the five week . aays? That is, an employee who had to jori on Sunday would work five consecutive, days of eight hours each day, and tnen, if it was his shift to work on Sunwould be employed for four hours (wanting as eight hours). I think one rould, get- sufficiently capable men at a gandard 'wager-say, for first motormen, of »4- 10s';- for second motormen (men with two years' experience) of £3 ss; and for a motormiyi; with ono year's experience of 153 'Per; week. Conductors would be paid per week less than a motorman. No ; Overtime should be permitted, and' there sbocH 'bo. a holiday throughout the year— . ..plinstnias time ono week, or durin <r raft-alow season a fortnight, on full pay. " It will probably be pointed out that "to carry 'Gtit this system it, would bo necessary to keep a large staff of men to cope with ;■ the work, i'nd it might be found necessary ■ oven to increaso the car fares. I think ,• myself 'that it would be much better to mpioy oven on extra. 20 tnen, if necessary, to-,carry , out the work in a; proper manner • than to have the present unsatisfactory con'Oitions. -The men aro dissatisfied, the management: apparently are dissatisfied with the meit and the public is dissatisfied with the ivhole .system. : " "If it is necessary to raise the fares, I : would respectfully suggest that no concession, .tickets be accepted on the cars between*- the hours of 9 a., to and 11 a .m, S&ch'day, and again between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m._ After 6 p.m. all fares should be paid for m cash unless for those who hold work„_ffien' s tickets. Our trams have to cater for theatre and picture show patrons,, and those who;, are in position ,to patronise immseineiiis of this descriptibn would, X , feui. sure, hot object to pay even a higher fire. ■" the time has arrived when some- ■ thjng mugi be done. It would be a great . pity and a, serious, loss to the corporation, i the employees, and the public generaJlv if the present conditions are not remedied and ■ the men decide to strike. I recognise that 'the present tramways manager should direct the council in this matter, and I trust that Mr Alexander and the tramwaymen will accept'these few remarks believing that my earnest;, desire is to see une present unfortunate ' conditions remedied to the satisfaovtion. of all ooncemed.—l am, etc., ■::: •' 'E. Oswald Reillv. • Dunedin, December 20.