TRAMWAY REGULATIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15999, 30 May 1924, Page 2

TRAMWAY REGULATIONS.

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON. By Telegraph.—Press Association. WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Government has been asked by the Tramways Federation of Employees of New Zealand to gazette regulations tinder the Tramways Act, 1010, in the interests of the public and of employees. Certain regulations have been drafted, and these were to-day considered by a conference of representatives of councils, tramway boards and employees. Delegates were present from Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, Invercargill, Wanganui, New Plymouth, Napier, and Takapuna. The Minister of Public Works, Don. ,!. G. Coates, opened the conference. Ife said the 'Government, and indeed lie felt sure §ll those present, desired to know whether the proposed regulations were in the interests of the general public, the tramway boards, and the employees. He rfecrred to previous conferences on these regulations, and said so far no unanimity had been brought about between employers and employees. It was his duly lo see fair play between the parties', and that was his object in calling the conference. It, was for those present to say if a case could be made out for putting the regulations into operation. The question naturally arose as to whether conditions' had altered since the legislation was dealt with at the last conference. It had also to be decided if certain facts had occurred which made it necessary that the regulations should be gazetted. Mr Furkert, cngineer-in-chief, suggested that the conference sbould take the regulations clause by clause. There were very few points at issue between the two sides, and it would not, therefore, be necessary to argue every clause afresh.

Mr C. Hobbs, secretary to the Tramway Employees' Federation, remarked that at the previous conference the employers' representatives had agreed that the new regulations were necessary.

Mr R. A. Wright replied that no such agreement was arrived at. Mr Hobbs maintained that the new regulations should be gazetted.