END OF TRANSPORT STRIKE IN SIGHT

Chronicle (Levin), 29 October 1946, Page 5

END OF TRANSPORT STRIKE IN SIGHT

PRIVATE MOTORS PLAYED MAJOR PART Received Tuesday, 12.45 a.m. MELBO URNE, Oct. 28. The end of the transport strike is in sigkt. A motion for resumption of work was aecepted by the Trades Hall disputes committee this afternoon after plain speaking from other imion delegat.es to representatives of the strilcing unions. A forcel'ul part in inducing acceptance of the recommeiidation was taken by the Premier, Mr. Cain, who was desirous of meeting Parliament tomorrow with a statement of a settlement. Mass meetings of the railwavs and tramwaymen are being held tomorrow morning whereat the recommendation for resumption will be submilted by union ofiicials. If the recommendation is aecepted it is expeeted trains and trams will resume on Wednesday. Home plain speaking is expeeted at these meetings tomorrow when, partieularly in the case of the railways, all Mr. Brown, A.R.U, secretary, can submit as gains for the strike, is three weeks' annual leave for some members and two weeks for otliers. All other claims are to be decided by the Railways Rtaff Board which was already established for sucli a purpose before the strike. The _T ramwavs Board has offerod no coneessions other than those cabled on Friday. The turning point in the strike un doubtedly came with the deeision of the Trades Hall Couneil to take charge of the dispute. The battle thereupon resolved itself into one between Labour and the Communists, honours having gone to the Labour Party as represented by the^ Trades Hall Couneil, and Political Labour as represented by Mr. Cain. Today 's meeting of the Trades Hall disputes committee manoeuvered Mr. Brown into the position of having to move for a settlement. This wa? seconded by the Tramwavs Union presi dent, Mr. J. Broadbv. The Tramwa.Vh Union exeeutive, wliich is 11011Communist controlled, understood and contributed largelv towar'ds the 'settles ment. • . ; ' ' * -••• Tlie failure of the strike was largely brbuglit about by private motors wliose I eooperation when emergency buses were intimidated off the road at the end of last week, continued to carry workers to and from the city. If normal transport is resumed on Wednesday, the tlirekt to the city's gas supply will also be removed as waterside labour will be available to work the 39 idle sliips at the port, including three colliers wliich have been awaiting discharge sinc.e Wednesdav. , /