Running the Trams.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20329, 12 June 1934, Page 6

Running the Trams.

Dear Sir, —I would like a little space to compliment Mr Archer on his statement concerning the trams made on Monday. Apparently he is now going to take his gloves off, but I am afraid he is about six months overdue in that respect. During the election, he was asked repeatedly if he would reorganise the service and make a complete change in the board’s executive officers, etc. Mr Archer’s reply was that

” that would not be necessary, as certain officers would not work under a Labour board.” Those* officers are still in their old positions.

Certain correspondents signing themselves ratepayers are continually grousing about the cost to the ratepayers of the tramway appeals, and are blaming the Labour board for this cost. Why? The board wishes to do the right thing by all its employees, including the so-called loyal men; but as a result of the decision of the chairman of the Appeal Board when the Tramway Board shifts one body of men either up or down the roster, the other group of men immediately applies to the Appeal Court. This would be quite in order, but why does the Court give costs against the Tramway Board when the board is not to blame? It is simply trying to carry out that decision faithfully. In conclusion I would like to offer two suggestions to the Tramway Board: (1) Send the names of every member of the staff, their length of service, their record and their character to Mr Young and let him place the men in their positions as he wishes; (2) pick out five or six successful business gentlemen in the city, hand them the same particulars and get them to place the men. In the latter case, let them be successful businessmen, who would know which employee to trust and carry out his duty faithfully. No business .is successful unless you ha\se the co-operation of the staff, and I hold that the Tramway Board has not that co-operation from 30 per cent of its staff.—l am, etc., G.C.