TRAMWAY TROUBLE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 2, 27 September 1918, Page 6

TRAMWAY TROUBLE

BATCH OF MEN REPORT SICK

REFUSAL TO TRAIN "STUDENTS"

Apcentuated overcrowding of the cars between 4.45 p.m. and 6 p.m. yesterday might have informed any stranger that our tramway service is seriously disorganised. The cars bound to tho south-eastern suburbs and Island Bay were packed to tho utmost limit. People were permitted to fill +lie platforms, and to Jiang on by a single hand-grip to push and squeeze within, and generally emulate the tactics of footballers in a scrum. At some of the stopping-places in town passengers had to almost fight their way through tho pack to get off a car, whilst at the same time people were scrambling vigorously to get on. The inspectors did their best to make the going orderly, but at times it was beyond their power to do so. One thing noticeable was that almost everyone took the trouble philosophically, and in the best of- humour, but theTe were occasions whon some of the lady pass-an-gers becamo irate at the conditioas, and vented their feelings audibly. The oxcessive overcrowding during the past two evenings has not been cnused aUogetlier by , the slowing down of the speed of oars. On Tuesday some half dozen men reported sick, and so excused themselves from duty. Tho number wag increased to fourteen yesterday. There are always, in a large body of men, such as are employed on the tramways, a number on the indisposed list, but that proportion l - as been exceeded. Whether this, fact has been caused by the influenza epidemic or under "unofficial advice" the tramway authorities were unable to say. Suffice that it lias made the task of maintaining the service a little more difficult, and has accentuated the inconvenience to the public during the rush hours. Under the circumstances the Mayor asks all those who can do so to use tho cars during other than rush hours.

How long this unsatisfactory state of thuirt-s is to last no one can say. The shift meeting enidemic continues. Two were held on. Wednesday, when for the third or fourth time the men decided to "stand firm," which action means the continuation of the conditions above recited. ,

-.Another "difficulty" developed yestprrlnv (in addition to the burden of sudden sickness) that will hamper the authorities still further. There are always new hands to train .in- the duties of. 'conductors and motormen, wlileh fliit-r is undertaken by the men during working hours. Yesterday the, "students" found themselves without musters: in other words, tho men refiwd to train new men evidently fearing that such a course may not be to their advantage should a crisis occur.

A MAYORAL STATEMENT. "NO NEGOTIATION WITH INDUSTRIAL REBELS." The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) made the following statemont to a Dominion reporter last evening:— "Having had evidence that misleading statements as to the wages paid to the tramway men have been made, I wish to state the facts. Had the men accepted the 10 per cent, increase offered them the minimum wage wtfiild be a fraction over Is. 3d. per hour, and the increase on other grades would have been in proportion, which conditions would be quite up to or better than the Auckland award which has just been entered into in the northern city. Further, the tramway employees travol free on the cars to and from work, and are provided with uniforms and greatcoats. They, too, have eight to twelve days' leave on full pay each year. If, unfortunately, they are laid aside through accident sustained whilst on duty their wages are paid iu full. '

"Then, as to overtime. The r..en have always objected to a spare list, and have at the making of each new agreement refused to consider a spare list, which compelled the council to call back men for rush-hour duty. Recently the necessary men to relieve the others, (in order to get their meals) have Ijeen refused.

"It is a matter for sincere regret that the men are acting on bad "advice and the service, a stato of affairs that will not be permitted to continue. The council will not negotiate with industrial rebels. Let the union get 'on side,' and csiry out the conditions of the agreement which were entered into by many men who are now valiantly taking part in the great strungle to destroy the upholders of brute force, who trample on agreements and violate sacred p'odgos. The men may think that their tactics will win "public sympathy. In that I am convinced they are mistaken. What wrongs that may exist (if any) must be righted by constitutional means and not by their present methods."