TRAM STRIKE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 114, 27 February 1950, Page 3

TRAM STRIKE

NO MOVES FOR SETTLEMENT \ MELBOURNE TRANSPORT . PARALYSED OW <N.Z.P. A.—Copyright) (Rec. ltl.10) MELBOURNE, This Day. Moves for a settlement have been made, in Melbourne’s tram strike, which has immobilised all trams and Government buses in the city. The indications are that suburban electric trains will be brought to a standstill shortly, completely paralysing Melbourne passenger transport. To-day a deputation of raihvaymen will ask the Victorian railway commissioners for an increase of £1 a week in marginal rates —a similar move to that which preceded the tramway strike. The State Cabinet will to-day consider the utimatum given by Premier Hollway, who told tramwaymen that if they were not back at work to-day, drastic measures would be taken. Cabinet is expected to enforce the deregistration of the Tramways Union, the withdrawal of all privileges to tramwaymen and the application of the Essential Services Act, which provides for a fine for participating in a strike without a prior secret ballot. It is recalled, however, that the dispute over the Essential Services Act caused a schism in the Liberal-Country Party Government in 1948, and that since the Hollway Government has held power by reason of tiny, support of a few Country Party members and, in .the face of constant threat of a combination of the bulk of the country Party with Labour.