THE TRAMWAY STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26792, 8 June 1948, Page 6

THE TRAMWAY STRIKE

Sir.—As a worker whose family and myself are under a debt of gratitude to the St. Clair district motorists who picked us up without solicitation every day during the strike, I publicly desire through your columns to express our thanks to our benefactors for their consideration and kindness to us who were deprived of transport by the senseless stoppage of tramcars by the strikers. The real brotherhood of man expressed in practical manner by many motorists is in marked contrast to the lip service brotherhood boasted of by the tramway “ comrades.’’ Messrs Connolly, Hudson, and Walls were in suitable company as rejected councillors with the president of the Tramways Union, a rejected coucillor. Mr Jones as a Cabinet Minister, of course, was a little more tactful as he had to keep in mind Mr Semple’s ’’ sham fight ” against the Communists. Messrs Connolly, Hudson and Walls and co. have not much knowledge of the mind of the people. Every misdeed of the Government results in thousands of Labour voters losing confidence in the party. These at first do not vote against Labour, but a continuation of misdeeds such as the Government members’ support of the transport strikers results in the falling 2f the votes from the Labour tree, and causes a gradual swing to sensible and responsible Government.—l am, etc., Ex-Labour Voter. TSlightly abridged. Will correspondents note that since the dispute has now been submitted to a tribunal, future letters may not contain comment thereon?— Ed. 0.D.T.) Sir, —It is obvious that the local members of Parliament, who sympathised with the strikers, are still licking the wounds they received at the time of the last municipal elections. If they expect the majority of the citizens of Dunedin to sympathise with the strikers, thsn they place the mentality of the people in a very mediocre category. These self same citizens might even remember all this at general election time—that would be awkward. If the tramwaymen would drop *’ pinpricking ” tactics, more harmony would exist, and in time they would even gain the respect of the public. What does Mr Walls think? —I am, etc., Fifty-fifty. Sir, —The local National Party propaganda machine, with an eye 'on the general election, makes much of the tramway strike. In contradiction to its leacer, Mr S. G. Holland, it denies the right of the men to strike, no matter how justified they frit. Also, in contradiction to that great believer in freedom of this, that and the other thing, it would deny anyone the right to express sympathy with the men, especially if they happen to be Labour numbers of Parliament. What about free speech? It would appear that the only freedom the local Nationalists would allow is their own brand. Had Mr Holland addressed that meeting, while it would be too much to expect him to express sympathy with the men, I am sure he would be the last one to say that they had no right to strike.—l am, etc.. Freedom. Sir, —In your tramway report in Saturday’s issue is a paragraph, “ No Gratitude." May I relate my experience? I am in my seventy-eighth year, but still a good walker. My home is distant from the Exchange, but I was determined not to •be done out of my visit to the city every day till Saturday. It would have meant 27 miles, but I did not walk more than five. I think my stride was suggestive. I particularly wish to mention one experience. On Wednesday I had just turned into the Bay road when a lady drew alongside and offered me a lift to Portobello, but on learning my destination, she insisted on taking me there, an extra seven miles. It was a splendid gesture, and deeply appreciated. The milk of human kindness still flows freely in Dunedin.—l am, etc., H. E. Alderton.