STRIKE CONTINUES

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1934, Page 5

STRIKE CONTINUES

LONG FIGHT EXPECTED ' NO TRAMS FOR CENTENARY PREPARATIONS OF UNION BOARD CHAIRMAN’S VIEWS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright Rec. 7.50 p.m. ’ Melbourne, Oct. 17. By a four-fifths majority tramway employees to-day adopted the executive s recommendation for a strike and will not resume until their claims for. 2s a day extra pay and improved working conditions are conceded. A committee was appointed to control strike activities and depots are being established to provide food and relief for tramwaymen and their dependents. Assistance is being sought from affiliated unions. Melbourne has now been without trams for 24 hours. People are adapting themselves to circumstances. The Government emergency bus services and railways are proving ample for all traffic requirements for the time being. The Tramway Board chairman emphasises that to grant the men’s demands would involve a permanent increase. in expenditure of £163,000 a year which would necessitate increased fares. A special meeting of the State Cabinet this afternoon discussed the position and arranged for special police protection for the city and suburbs in the event of disturbances synchronising with the Duke’s arrival. The Tramway Board also held a special meeting and decided that those tramwaymen prepared to resume duty should notify the board not later than Friday, after which the board will take steps to recruit men and re-establish the tram service. It is understood the moderate section at this morning's tramway meeting were opposed to the strike, declaring it would completely alienate public sympathy at the present time. It, is also reported that any attempt to recruit volunteer labour for trams will lead to an extension of the strike to power-house employees, thus stopping the electric trains. The Trades Hall disputes committee is to-night holding a conference with the Tramway Board. Bright hopes of a set- ' tlement of the strike are held.