A TRAMWAY LABOUR DIFFICULTY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 261, 8 November 1906, Page 3

A TRAMWAY LABOUR DIFFICULTY.

MEETINGS OF PROTEST. Among the tramway employees there . . jjcen a simmering of discontent over rarious matters for some time, but dur- • a the last few days the di-missal of Sf o conductors aud tae publication oj the terms of the Dunedin Tramways' award v_ Te °reatlv intensified this feeling, nartlvtiti* - :tated - a Press Association message made it appear that the Tjtowdin award would govern the re-t of the tramway services iv tne colony. This ia not correct, as each district stands by itself, and the Auckland men are at present'working under an award which regains in force until superseded by (mother. When the terms of the Southern award were known someone wrote _g opinion, couched in no complimentary term 3 - with a charred match on a window in one of tae company's buildings. Que of the conductors was accused of _is, and though he made an emphatic denial of the authorship or knowledge 0 f the writing, h - was summarily dismissed. This action app--ar- to have raised the intensity of the men's discontent to such a state that many of the jinployees advoeat-d a strike on the eom- ;_ holiday in order to gain their ends, fortunately, wiser counsels prevailed, md it was shown that legislation forbids any combination of persons attempting to evade or defeat an award of the "Arbitration Court or to promote a strike or lock-out. Mass meetings of employees were called for this morning a_i evening to consider the question. Ibis morning tiie members of one shift were present to the number of 91. Mr. W. Peake. a member of the Trades and Labour Council, who was present by invitation, was elected to the chair. Mr. A. Eosser was appointed to act as secrearv. The man dismissed stated his case to the meeting, and reiterated his denial of any connection with the authorship of the opinion on the Dunedin award, which kd led to his dismissal. The other conductor was dismissed in consequence of a complaint ma le by a passenger.

ih. Rosser pointed out the clauses prohibiting strikes and discontinuance of work. They should gain their ends by constitutional means and not alienate the sympathies of the public from their cause by striking on a public holiday, as had been widely suggested.

A series of resolutions were then unanimously agreed to: i 1) That this meeting respectfully asks the company to hold farther inquiries into the dismissal of the two conductors named, as the unanimous opinion of the men is that they are not guilty of the conduct which led to their dismissal. (-2) That an answer be respectfully requested by Monday morning next at 10 a.m.. failing which the Trades and Labour Council Till be asked to take the matter up. An opinion was further expressed that the friction that is existing at the present moment is owing to the want of tact on the part of a certain officer of the company.

A vote of thanks concluded the meeting, which was adjourned until this evening to allow the day shift an opportunity of discussing the situation.