PROSPECTS BRIGHTER

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 493, 30 June 1932, Page 11

PROSPECTS BRIGHTER

Tramways Dispute May be Settled. CONCILIATORY ATTITUDE. For the first time since the recent tramway strike members of the Christchurch Tramway Board and the Tramway Employees’ Union met across the table last evening, for the purpose of discussing the new agreement. The discussion lasted four hours, and such a conciliatory attitude prevailed that the prospects of a settlement of the matters in dispute are distinctly bright. It is understood that the board is prepared to give way bn the question of rationing, but is holding out on the question of overtime rates and the proposal to delete the preference clause from the agreement. At the conference the board was represented by Messrs E. 11. Andrews (chairman), A. A. M’Lachlan, G. T. Booth and W. Hayward, and the union by Messrs J. S. Barr, J. Wilson, N. R. Forbes, C. Guy and A. E. Armstrong. Mr Andrews stated that the proceedings at the conference had been quite conciliatory, and the result of the discussion would be reported to the board in due course. No agreement was reached, but both sides had exchanged their points of view in regard to the matters in dispute. The union representatives had been very nice about things, and expressed appreciation of the way the board had met them. The board also appreciated their attitude. “ A conciliatory attitude prevailed, and the union has every hopes of coming to an agreement with the board,” stated Mr Armstrong, one of the union representatives. “ The board representatives were quite agreeable to th» rationing scheme, but there was just a little query with regard to overtime. The preference clause is really the main clause in dispute, but it is possible that we are going to get over that matter all right. The position now is that the sub-committee of the board is to confer with the board as a whole, and let us know the final basis for a settlement. We, on the other hand, will formally call a meeting of the union and give our reply or meet the board again to bring things to finalit\-. Judging by the spirit that prevailed it seems probable that one agreement will be binding for the lot, and that the negotiations will be completed by the union.” The board has already met representatives of the Tramway Traffic Employees’ Association which was ret up resently by members of the union 1 who remained loyal to the board during the recent strike, and new employees, and before the week is out it is to meet a third party to the dispute—a number of engineers and gar-shed hands. The latter have advised the board that they have formed an association of their own, and the board has replied that it is willing to meet their representatives in conference to discuss the new agreement. Previously the board has found it necessary to deal with only the union, but on this occasion the" position is rather complicated. Position in Wellington. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 29. The Cityi Council has given authority for the submission of amended terms for a new agreement with members of the Tramways Union. It is understood that the conditions are fairly closely parallel to those of the old agreement, the main departure suggested being the application of the full 10 per cent cut to the outside men who received a 7 per cent cut only when the general order was applied last year, though the workshop employees and the officers had their wages cut by the full 10 per cent. The new proposals suggest time and a half for Sundays and all overtime. Certain minor amendments, including the spreading of working time, are proposed; and the draft suggests some curtailment of holiday privileges.