THE TRAMWAYMEN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1348, 27 January 1912, Page 4

THE TRAMWAYMEN.

BALLOT FAVOURS A STRIKE, Tho principal item of gossip in (.ho city yesterday was Uio possibility of a tramway strike resulting from the stand taken up by the City Council on lxshalf of Inspector Fuller 011 Thursday evening Rumours of all kinds were flying aboutj tho most persistent of these being tho statement (bat tho oars would be deserted by the men at 5 o'clock. Xeedless Id say, 110 such thing happened. Among tlw tramwaymcn the opinion of a section at least inclines lo the belief that the Tramways Comiuiltco will transfer Inspector Puller to another sphere of activity on the ground that tho present trouble lias placed him in an unpleasant position in the carrying out of his duties. Ono of tho councillors who voted with the majority on Thursday evening cxprossed the> opinion that a transfer would tako place very shortly. Generally speaking, (ho tramwaymcn arc reticent about the matter. The count of votos at the secret ballot was concluded about 9 o'clock last evening,/ the result being that about 00 per cent, of the votes were in favour of a strike. The whole situation, it is Btated, will bo reviewed at a meeting of tho tramway men to-morrow. There will bo no immediate strike, as tho union intends lo give tlic requisite fourteen days' notice, and so comply with tho law. The secretary of tho union (Mr. A. Sutherland) states tliat tho question lias now developed into an issue between Capital and Labour-the influence of tho Employers' Association was discermbleat the council division on Thursday evening. The union is not looking for trouble, but in tho present crisis there is a question of principle involved, and tho union is prepared to light lor it. The union, he slates, must stand arm for the cause of Labour.