THE LABOUR COUNCIL AND THE TRANWAY BOARD.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11485, 19 January 1903, Page 4

THE LABOUR COUNCIL AND THE TRANWAY BOARD.

It is evident that if some people had their way there would be practically nothing left for the Tramway Board to dec&a when the members "are elected*—H would be all cut and dried for them beforehand. They are being anked to pledge themselves on all sorts of subjects without being allowed to consider or even to become acquainted l with the information en which «k>ne a sound decision could be based—information in the shape of tenders and so forth, obviously not accessible until the Board is formally constituted. The Trades' and Labou* Council, who are the latest to enter the field, have propounded a series of questions evidently conceived from the most selfish standpoint. These gentlemen apparently look upon the proposed tramway* merely as an institution to provide high wages and short hours to the particular workers engaged in constructing or running the trams, quite regardless of the cost to the ratepayers at large, who have to find the money. It is to the interest of these ratepayers that the tramways shall bo quickly and economically constructed. The Trades' and Labour Council wish to intist on conditions as to day labour being employed; local material being used, the wages to be paid, etc , which would materially increase the cost to thie ratepayers, and lengthen the time required for the completion of tho work. We are glad to see that the majority of tho candidates have refused to acoe.pt the dictation of the Trades' and Labour Council in this matter. The Conciliation Board and Arbitration Court constitute a guarantee that workers employed in (ither building or running the trams will be fairly treated, both in the matter of hours and wages. We do not see that they have a right to esk for anything more. Any further concession given to them would bo an unfair concession given to a comparatively wnall band of workers at the expense of tre general body of ratepayers, among whoxr will be found a large proportion of working men not employed in any way in conneotinD with the proposed trams. As to the question whether any of the plant of existing tramways should bs purchased, that; is obviously one which cannot be decided until the Board know whether such a step will be necessary in order to secure the continuance, or better still, an improvement of the present eervice, pending the construction of the electric traona, and at so until they kno<w the price which would Lave to be paid. Thia is nirely a question which a board composed of good business men can be trusted to settle in a busi-ness-like fashion.