THE TRAM MEN'S DECISION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1908, 17 November 1913, Page 8

THE TRAM MEN'S DECISION.

MEETING YESTERDAY,

LOYAL TO ARBITRATION COURT.

It seems that) the rumoured tramway . strike is not to be. These men stai-Q that, though thoy sympathise -with the wafersiders, they are nevertheless of opinion t thai those more intimately in. touch with waterfront work should come out nrsfcj mid that they themselves should bo amongst the last to strike. ■It had already been decided by tho members of the Tramway Union that they..' should not strike, and yesterday a further meeting was held, at which' tihey j deemed not to cancel their registration under the Arbitration. Act.. As of tho.struggle is "arbitration or no. arbitration," this practically means that a tram strike is very unlikely, It was further decided yesterday that a levy of (3d. in the £1 be mado on tho wages of-married men, and. Is. in the ■ ~ r I nien, a® a contribution to the strike fund, A committee was set up to administer tho fund. A deputation from tho union which waited on the chairman of tho Tram,va.vs Hoard, regarding tho curl-ago "of coal for the power-house which had been handled by Arbitration labour, Was told by Mr. Morton that ho would do all ho could to keep tho traimvavs from becoming involved in the trouble. He had to conserve the publio interests. Ho was taking up a neutral attitude, and personally he desired to see an end of the trouble. He would do his duty by the citizens of Wellington. 11l conversation with, a reporter, the Mayor (Mr. J. P.\ Luke) said that lie was sure that the tramwaymen would realise their responsibility to the pub. lie. In such a time as this, -some distuic.trau must bo drawn between important public service and other forms of employment. He was su.ro that tho men would their loyalty by mailt-' ta.ining the service as in normal times. Jho union s, agreement aspires to-day, and negotiations are now in progress for another. The men have formulated a long list.of demands* .cohering tho whole range of tramway work, and tlieso demands were now under consideration by tlie board.