THE TRAMWAYS STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26791, 7 June 1948, Page 6

THE TRAMWAYS STRIKE

Sir,—l think the reference in your leading article to those Labour members of Parliament who condoned the recent strike of the tramwaymen will be endorsed by fully 60 per cent, of the community. Mr Connolly congratulates the union for causing hardship to the other v/orkers who use the trams and buses. Evidently Mr Connolly has not got over his defeat at the municipal elections last November, but he is greatly mistaken if he thinks he is expressing the opinions of sane Labour. The women and old folk who have had to suffer hardship during the past few days are not likely to forget Mr Connolly’s words of encouragement to the strikers at the next general election. I only hope that Mr Eric Anderson will be his opponent, and the result may not be so pleasing for Mr Connolly. Mr Walls, too, seems to have made the mistake of misjudging public opinion. While appealing to the men to get the strike over, he said: “But don’t give anything away.” If neither side is prepared to give anything away that simply means prolonging the dispute. Mr Jones seems to have been the only member of Parliament to have appealed to the tramwaymen in a sensible manner when he asked the men to consider the matter quietly and carefully and to he mindful of the interests of other workers. Had they done this at the start we would not have been without buses and trains for nearly a week. I notice that the union secretary said he did not think anyone would be found ” scabbing.” To my mind the tramwaymen have been " scabbing ” on their fellow-workers by refusing to run the trams and buses for their benefit.—l am, etc., Citizen.

Sir, —The words spoken at a tramway union meeting by our local members of Parliament—Messrs Connolly, Walls and Hudson—show quite clearly that they, along with other union men, including Mr W. B. Richards, have not recovered from the trouncing they received at the municipal elections in November. Since then, the tramwaymen, commanded by Mr Richards have not played the game, and have caused strife, irritation and loss to innocent people by their stop-work meetings, their go-slow policy and a five-day strike. Mr Hudson has said that this would not have happened if two or three Labour members were on the City Council. Surely he has not forgotten that the Labour members who were on the last City Council refused to co-operate with the other six members. These, then had to shoulder the responsibility that Messrs Connolly, Walls and others shirked, and had to stand up to criticism and abuse. The same thing would happen again, for Labour looking for power will not cooperate with others for the good of all. — I am, etc., Fact.

Sir,—Does the Labour Government stand for taking the power out of the hands of those in Dunedin who are in authority? Instructions have been given against any discipline to those involved in the strike Does not that arrangement rather encourage strikes, instead of law and order? Are the tramwaymen down-trodden? If they were they would soon look' out for another job. Evidently there is no fault to find in wages or hours, but their grievance is everybody’s business, and so the public must suffer. What Mr Connolly says about the City Council might be more truly applied to some in the Tramways Union, and what he says about the National Party has yet to be proved. If the Labour Government continues, as at the present time many would welcome a change.—l am, etc., A Dunedinlte.

Sir,—We have recently heard much of the campaign by Labour leaders against Communist tactics. Now, whether the dominant members of the Tramways Union are Communists or not, it is obvious that the methods being used are- those of the militant Socialists (better known as Communists), and that this is exactly the disruptive kind of strike and strikers; against which Mr Semple has been conducting his crusade. If Messrs Semple, Fraser and Nash are sincere in their condemnation of Communist methods now is surely the time to prove it by supporting the legally correct attitude of a council which received a democratic and overwhelming mandate to administer the affairs; of this city. This is no struggle between oppressed workers ” and “ profit-grabbing private capitalists,” but a fight between a militant section of public servants and the elected representatives of the people they are paid to serve. If the Labour leaders fail to uphold this democratically constituted authority—if they surrender once more to the threats of force from their militant fellow travellers on the road to Socialism—then they brand themselves as insincere and their campaign against Communism as a mere smoke screen to blind the public.—l am, etc., Dad.

Sir,—This letter is to the returned soldiers who are taking part in the tram strike. First let me state it is not affecting the writer at all, hut what I wish to say ts this, many girls .arid women are being hurt and inconvenienced—some of them the writer has worked wth for years during the war and after—many of these girls worked long hours and worked hard, some are married and are keeping homes and are struggling with parcels, etc. Very few of them were given a month’s furlough and a gratuity, and many, particularly the older ones, are very tired and could do with a rest. You returned boys must have some influence with people around you and it is up to you to be stronger for peace and sensible means of settling disputes than striking and hurting those least able to take it. Do not think they cannot take it. that is all wrong. I saw them taking it and smiling during the war. The smile is a weary one now perhaps, but it is .still there.—I am, etc., Smiling Thru.