AUCKLAND TRAMWAYS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 56, 29 November 1907, Page 2

AUCKLAND TRAMWAYS.

- GRIEVANCES OF THE EMPLOYEES. .DISCUSSED WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER. (BY TELEGRAPH-SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Auckland, November 28.. In addition to the dismissal of Conductor Holden, yesterday's deputation of tramway men discussed with Mr. Walklato, general manager of tbo Company, several other grievances. Ono was as t to the methods in vogue of detecting dishonest conductors. A member of the,,deputation urged that the public should be'.trained to assist the conductors as much as'possible by having the request to destroy each ticket on alighting brought more forcibly under their, notice. Directions to this effect are now printed oh the tickets, but it was suggested'--.that they should be printed in large letters on; the , cars. It was stated that on : a London tram-, way system in which this course was; adopted" '-... there were very few. cases of dishonesty/on-.' the part of conductors, as the public them- • selves had removed the temptation by de- '.' stroying the tickets.' ■ • '' ••,; ' Mr. Walklate said that the matter was worthy of consideration. : Reference was made to a recent, instruc-: tion issued to conductors that they- must" not'be within their cars except when collect- ■-. ing fares, but that they niu'sfc take up their '•' station's on the rear platform, "dust or no. " dust." It was stated that, owing to .the excessive dust on'many'.of the routes coni- . plianco with the rule would be Very detrimental to health...-' ■.-'- '' • ..'".'-, Mr. Walklato replied that a conductor, was supposed to be on tho platform to watch; ■•• his trolley pole when not collecting fares.'• He recognised, however, that.on such dusty routes as Khyber Pass and the Onehunga line, this.regulation would have tb .be applied with discrimination -i' , ; ■.'■■*■■ ■' ..; It was asked whether the Company "pro- ■ posed to adopt the following ■ rccommehda- ; ;, tion of the Arbitration Court in regard to : . holidays: "That tho •Company. take into consideration the question of giving (every man who has been in tho Company's employ a certain time a certain number of holidays, a year onfull or half : pay.""- ■-;' ■ .'.. ''.-; Mr. "WaTklato :-said that this matter had not yet been considered, but it would be ■ dealt with as carly.ias.possible. . ■ ■•",.- Tho case of a conductor Vho.wass'recently rendered unconscious by falling off ■'a car > (owing, "to" the-step •hayjjig .been' , left' up). '.. and who was debited with, 6s. 9d. ""short," • was alluded to. It .was .stated thatthe- ... monoy: had fallen put- of the bag.when he '■■ fell, and that .he should not, therefore, be' ■ ". mado to suffer the loss.' .;■.., ..': '■-.:.'■. ; Mr. Walklate said th.at.in vieiw''.of the [ special circumstances of the- case the money would be refunded to tho,-conductor, • but this was riot to be., regarded as forming a precedent. ■ '' \ ■''• ,^'■.'-,':.'.. Mr. Walklate introduced the question of : tho seats lately supplied to the. niotormen, and , said that' it , ' was ; absolutely accessary ' that these should | he used with ; diie discrimination: Ho intimated that a Regulation on the subject would sliortlyHo issued.. He . ■ also promised,'in reply to"'a-'request, from . . 'the deputation,-to provide 'univeraali locks and keys for tho lockers on the cars. • „ • ■~ v Some other minor matters were cussed. ■ ■ • ••■■'■". ■•■•■.■ :' i; '\f}\ ■, •. At the-close of the interview Mr.vßqs'ser- . thanked Mr. Walklato on behalf of.!;th'p'deputation for ■ the attention '■ which l - hq'; had given' to their representations. The-.-.Object of tho ho said, was- to work in complete,'. ■harmony "with the Company. ' : 'M- <,•[■:'. Mr. Walklatei in acknowledging the "ex-,, pression.of good-feeling, said-that the .■main-.--' tenance of harmonious, relations would;■ also■'.■' : be his. aim. : : '".;m'. • - ■ .-.r, i.'. v,"v-