MEN'S MEETING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11264, 3 February 1912, Page 5

MEN'S MEETING.

FIRST CLAUSE REJECTED

H : EMLPOYEES UNANIMOUS,

The utmost care was taken to ensure that none but members of the union or of the strike committee should gain admittance to the concert chamber in the evening, says the N. Z. Times. Scouts guardel every approach to the hall and challenged every man who came near. The meeting was very largely attended. Mr R. Semple, organiser ot tne Federation of Labour, was present, but did not address the mvn. The meeting lasted from 8 o'clock until a quarter before 10, and at the, conclusion an official statement of the position was made by Mr W. T. Young, the chairman of the strike committee. ABSOLUTELY NO SETTLEMENT. "There's no settlement," ho declared, adding emphatically: '"Absolutely none! The Council's proposed clause in regard to Inspector Fuller was rejected by unanimous vote. The position is this: I' 1 ULLER'S TRANSFER. '"As a result of the negotiations to-day, we came to an understanding with reference to the transfer of Inspector Fuller and the compact arrived ■ lit, which wan subsequently adopted by the strike committee, that Fuller should be transferred to a branch of the service where lie would not come into contact with the members of the Tramways Union. We very reluctantly agreed to that course, because it did not carry with it the absolute removal of this man from the tramway service. THOUGHT THINGS WERE SETTLED. "Subsequently we returned to the Town Hall and met the acting-Mayor and three councillors, including Councillor Shirtcliffe. We were then under the impression that everything had been settled satisfactorily. I conveyed to those gentlemen the conclusions of the strike committee, and told them that we were very reluctant to do so, but we would submit to Fuller's transference to a branch of the service where he would not come into contact with members of the union. The Town Clerk departed to lick the agreement into shape ready for signature and this is what he brought ns back :— That Inspector Fuller be transferred at his own request to another branch of the service. ! "We briefly di-scussed this with the acting-Mayor and the three Councillors, and we objected to it. Wo told

them that it was not in accordance with the arrangement arrived at, ami wo did not sec our way clear to accept it. They pointed out that clause No. 1 (referring to Fuller) was a resolution of the Council, and they could not alter it. They said that the record was as under: — That with regard to clause 1 of tin's agreement the following resolution had been passed by the City Council: That it; be an instruction to the electrical engineer, on the settlement of the dispute, to have Inspector Fuller placed in a position where he will not have any dealings with the members of the Tramways Union. PROPOSAL REJECTED. "We v nted them to incorporate this in the agreement. Their argument was that it was not necessary to do so, and that it was already on the minute-book of the City Council, and would be adhered to. We pointed out. that the same argument would appl.y to other clauses, ami meant that so long as resolutions were on the Council's minute-book it was not necessary to sigu the agreement at all. However, rhe proposal was rejected. At 7.:>u o'clock there was a meeting of the Strike Committee, and they rejected it. To-night it came before a meeting of the members of the Tramways Union, and they absolutely rejected it unanimously and with cheers. IX DEMNITY QUESTION. "We are determined not to take it under any consideration whatever. It is our opinion that a breach of faith, whether intentional or otherwise, has been committed. Therefore, for the time being, there is no settlement, and negotiations are off. In regard to No. 2 of our original demands, that the Council give a written undertaking to indemnify the men against possible legal prosecution, we reasoned that out with the City Council. They pointed out to us that it was beyond their jurisdiction, and that if they gave such guarantee they would have to pay the money out of their own pockets, because' the public auditor would not pass it. After discussing the matter with them, and although it was one of the vital issues involved, as reasonable men we saw our way clear to strike that out altogether. VICTIMISATION. "In regard to \o. :> of our demands, that on the resumption of work the men involved in this trouble shall not be subject to victimisation, but shall continue in their employment ;IS if 110 such cessation occurred, with one or two alterations in wording which do not in any way affect the principles involved,' that w;\s agreed to. It was submitted to the meeting of the men here to-night and unanimously adopted by them. Therefore all we want now is a clause to this effect, which is in keeping with the agreement arrived at to-day with the city council representatives: 'That Inspector Fuller be transferred to a brunch of the service where he will not come into contact with the members of the Tramways Union.' When the city council agrees to that and embodies it in an agreement signed by both parties, this dispute is over. The cars can be run in less than half an hour. That is all L-otween us. As to the wages the men lose whilst on strike, it was never intended that there should be any demand for the wages of the men during the time that they are out of work. But as to the words objected to, the council wants to foist upon us what, is not m the minute book, and which will lead the public to believe that Fuller is transferred at. his own request. We want the public to understand that he had been transferred at our request.''