Members Outspoken

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26790, 5 June 1948, Page 6

Members Outspoken

The Security Hall, South Dunedin, was packed yesterday afternoon, when members of the Dunedin branch of the Tramways’ Union met for their daily meeting to consider the progress of the transport strike. Among the speakers were the four Dunedin members of Parliament, who their views on the situation to tnc assembled men.

“ I want to congratulate the members of the union on the solidarity they have shown in this struggle,” said Mr P. G. Connolly. “If Labour suppprters had shown the same solidarity last November this position would never have arisen. In the City Council as it is constituted at present there are those who are simply looking for industrial strife. In the attitude being adopted by the council you can see what would happen if the National Party ever became the Government.” Mr Connolly said that he firmly believed that the trams would have been running again 36 hours prior to yesterday’s meeting if it had not been for the threats made by the Transport Committee. "We will not stand for that sort of thing in 1948. Those days are gone,” he said. Strong criticism of the engineer-manager of the Transport Department was also expressed by Mr Connolly. In concluding his address Mr Connolly said: “Once again I congratulate you. I know you will win. There is nothing like going into a fight when you know you are on the right side.” He added that he thought the union should make it clear to the women shoppers of Dunedin that it was prepared to have the trams running on Friday morning, but that the City Council had not seen fit to meet the men in their proposals. Mr W. A. Hudson said that he was proud to be present and to be able to say that he still retained his union membership. “ I would say that the stoppage of the transport system is due to the action of the Transport Committee. The City Council is made up entirely of Tory members. Even one or two Labour men there would have made a difference,” he said.

The public had been highly critical at teh statr of t at -the start of the strike but since then, due in part to the press reports which were fairly good for two Tory newspapers, there had been a different tone regarding the action of the tramwaymen. The public was now realising that the men had right on

their side. If the threat of dismissal were put into effect he was sure tha4 the tramwaymen would have the support of all union members, not only in Dunedin but throughout New Zealand.

Mr Hudson said that when the tribunal sat to consider the case he was certain that the men would have a victory. “If you consider the suggestions put forward to-day do not think you will lose anything by doing so. You should give every consideration , to the proposals. If you can agree with the City Council on points you should do so. You will win the fight next Wednesday anyway,” he said, Mr R. Walls said that he believed the public was now on the side, of the men. “ You must stand firm and see this thing through. Pin-pYicking at the Tramsheds will have to cease. The Government is doing everything it can because it realises that strikes are no good to anyone. The worker is always the one who suffers,” he said. He appealed to the men to get the strike over in the interests of the working oeople of Dunedin. “ But don’t give anything away,” he concluded. An outline of his negotiations with the Transport Committee was given by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones. He said that the suggestion from the Minister of Labour, Mr McLagan, that the money in dispute be paid to the Department of Labour in the meantime had been rejected. Had the council agreed to this proposal, the trams would have been running on Friday morning. A further suggestion that a tribunal with an independent chairman should hold the money had also been turned down.

“Failing all else, 'the Minister of Labour, Mr McLagan, will have to appoint a tribunal under the Strike and Lockout Emergency Regulations. It will be compulsory and binding on both parties,” said Mr Jones. Rep.yling to a vote of thanks to the members of Parliament for attending the meeting, Mr Jones said that the Government wanted to see all its workers employed full time. “ I did hope that you would have accepted the Prime Minister’s suggestion that the money in dispute be held in e a special trust fund,” he said, amid’a series of loud cries of “ No! ” He asked the men to consider the matter quietly and carefully and to be mindful of the interests of other workers. “The people of Dunedin will appreciate your action if you get those wheels turning again,” he said.