PUBLIC OPINION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 4, 30 September 1918, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l think the Mayor and councillors are to bo commended for the backbone they have shown in reference to the tramway trouble. It should be remembered that the conductors' work on the trams is not of a skilful nature, and could be easily carried out by boys or girls or middle-aged men. fiurely it was never intended to par men's wages for boys' work; and ft a. man wants the job lie must take it on the wageohat are offering. It would be more satisfactory to close down, business ■ altogether for a time rather than to let the tail wag the dog. If a man wants to be- a conductor he must submit to the conditions, but if he feels that he wants to earn bigger wages then he must go into some other avenue, where his services will be more profitable. To my mind the corporation, has dealt with' the mwi quite fairly. It is indeed pathetic when one looks round and sees the loose way things of moment are gripped' to-day. The men should be made to understand that if they do not like the work and the pay they can get out. Why not run a few cars to the distant parta only, and I am sure the townspeople, would not come to any harm if they bad to walk for a! while. It seems tho men want both endt of the fitif.k—they want higher wages and no sacrifice—and the public to make all the sacrifice and pay at the same time. The council made the men a good offer when they suggested a 10 per cent, bonus to married employees; and surely tho single ones can live on what they are getting. A. concern that wage froin tho wrong end will always ho a failure\v—l am, etc., PUBLIC. Sir,—l took the trouble to examine the largest wage, figures for two weeks supplied by Mr. Morton, as appearing in your paper on, I think, September 25. They were £8 12s. 6d. for twe weeks; and this is what they really mean, but which Mr. Morton and pur Mayor have not disclosed. . It requires a man. to work seven days a weelc for more than eight and a half hours each day at Is. sd. per hour to obtain this £3 12s. 6d. in two weeks. If you concede a man his Sunday, aud half-day Saturday, you reduce the hours by about thirteen in the week, and the weekly wage of.the tramway msm on Mr. Morton's best showing would be about £3 7s. lOd. per week.—l am, KELBURN. September 27.