TRAMWAYS STRIKE.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18631, 9 May 1932, Page 8

TRAMWAYS STRIKE.

DISGRACEFUL SCENE. FOOTBALLERS HOOTED. AN ARREST MADE. (By Telegrapn.—rress Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. One of the most disgraceful scenes ever witnessed during a Rugby match oocurred at Lancaster Park to-day during the game -between Merivale and Christchurch. Incensed evidently by grievances more or less connected with the trramway stike, a section of the crowd on the embankment kept up an almost continuous roar of booing and hooting directed at members of the Christchurch team, some of whom are members of the special police. Whenever a player took a kick at goal the sullen clamour was redoubled, accompanied by loud cries. Frequently when Christchurch forwards went up for a line-out the irate section of the crowd yelled in chorus, “ Right left, right left, right left.’ 1 As soon as the match finished the crowd gathered outside the grounds, swarming over the tram lines and blooking the road to traffic. Hoots and Jeers, The first tram and its driver were greeted with hoots and jeers. Someone threw a bottle, but it fell short of its mark, finding instead the head of a man who was trying to sing “ The Red Flag.” He sank to the ground, but was not badly hurt.. He was unconscious for a few moments and when he came to continued to sing “ The Red Flag,” and exhort others to join him. •There was a roar of laughter when a policeman in the crowd was hoisted shoulder high and slapped on the back by all who could reach him. “ Good old Jack,” they cried, and bore him to the edge of the crowd amid cheers and laughter. The crowd of well over 500 people were thronging the gates and every minute the situation looked uglier. Reinforcements made the police number up to about 30. With firmness that brooked no -opposition they worked the crowd away from the gates. One woman objected to moving and when she was pushed back by a policeman she scratched and tore at his face until two policemen finally forced her out of the way. Several men made a desultory resistance, but their spirit did not spread to the mob and nothing serious eventuated. The police van pulled round to the pavilion. Most of the Christchurch team were packed inside and the vehicle started off, running the gauntlet of the angry crowd. One man was arrested and bundled in with the footballers.

PLATE GLASS WINDOW BROKEN. STONES AND IRON HURLED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. Conditions last night were normal, with the exception of -one incident. The double plate-glass windows of the Bell Cycle and Motor Company, Ltd., in Lichfield Street, were, smashed by men who rode up the street on bicycles at about seven o’clock when the streets were almost empty. They hurled stones and pieces of iron at the windows. It is. stated that a possible explanation is that sympathisers with the strikers chose this method of vengeonco against the principal of the firm, Mr Charles Bell, who they believed to he one of the temporary constables concerned in the skirmishes last week. Actually, Mr Bell has not joined the special police. After this occurrence another shopkeeper was accosted and told that if it could be proved that lie was a temporary constable his shop would be similarly dealt with. This shopkeeper was not a temporary 'constable.

CONFERENCE FAILS. DEADLOCK OVER VOLUNTEERS. CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. The disposal of the volunteer workers manning the trams is the chief difficulty in the way of a settlement of the tramway dispute. Negotiations for a settlement which began at noon -on Saturday and were adjourned at midnight brought no definite result, although now that the union and the tramway board have been brought into conference there is at least some prospect that a solution may be found. When the conference ended at midnight the board proposed that a tribunal be appointed under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act, while the union wished for a private tribunal. The union considered both suggestions at a meeting to-day and decided to leave action to its committee, which will continue the negotiations with the hoard to-morrow. It is reported that the discussions wero carried on in an informal and friendly spirit. Several times the parties separated to consider the proposals submitted. The union was insistent that the volunteer workers should be dismissed beforo its members return to work. The board feels that it owes something -to the men who came forward and manned the cars against difficulties and threats, and is determined that these men shall not be thrown out of employment. The parlies are very far apart on this question.

ALL QUIET TO-DAY. LINES STRONGLY GUARDED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. All was quiet, on the tramway front, this morning. There was no disturbance and Iho service is being maintained. All lines were strongly guarded overnight, hut pickets were absent.

ANOTHER WINDOW BROKEN. “ LOVE FROM THE STRIKERS.” CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. Anothei; window was broken in the city last, night, that of Messrs Hurst and Drake, Lower High Street. Round the stone was a paper bearing the words, “ Love from the strikers.'' The police say drastic steps arc being taken to catch offenders. .(Continued In next column.!

STRIKERS IN POLICE COURT. THREE MONTHS’ HARD LABOUR. OBSTRUCTING THE POLICE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. As a result of the recent strike disturbance a number of -men appeared in the Poli'co Court this morning. For waiting -and besetting five men were sentenced to three months’ hard labour. All were labourers, and were arrested in Ilagley Park on Saturday. In convicting another man for obstructing the police the magistrate, Mr Mosley, said: “ It is poor, insignificant little branches of humankind, whose mentality Is not very profound, who -move a crowd to disorder. It is men like 'this who cause all the trouble. There are only 200 of them. The trouble lias got to be stopped.” Accused, Robert John Lee, aged 35 years, labourer, was sentenced to a month’s hard labour. Loyal Employee Assaulted. Three men were charged with using violence against John Smith, to compel him from doing an act which he •had the right to do. They were Ernest George Ellis (43), tram motorman, George Albert Knowles (36) tram conductor, and Colin Trevor Henry Dixon (30), tram motorman. The police said a'coused knocked a loyal employee .off his bicycle on Friday and kicked him. Accused were remanded till to-mor-row, bail being allowed in self £250, and two sureties of £250. DEADLY WEAPONS USED. CLAWHAMMER AND BLUDGEON. CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. During the hearing of charges of waiting and -besetting near Hagley Park on Saturday, several batons made from handles of hoes and branches of trees were produced, along with a clawhammer and a lead bludgeon. In giving evidence, Detective Laugeson said that they were found in the grass near the point where the men wero arrested. Some of the batons had been soaked in water, evidently to give them a bit of extra weight. HOPES OF SETTLEMENT. CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON. CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. The parties to the tramway dispute will resume the conference at three o’clock, when the Mayor, Mr Sullivan, will also be present.. Brighter hopes of a settlement are now "entertained, especially as the union has given its nine representatives a free hand. The Minister of Labour has authorised Mr Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, to take any action under Hie. statute lie thinks lit. While the question of the employment, of volunteer workers remains the obstacle, it is understood that the union is likely to waive its objection to union men working alongside volunteer men.