TRAMWAYS DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 179, 24 April 1920, Page 6

TRAMWAYS DISPUTE

COUNCIL'S LATEST OFFER REJECTED. ' ! The City Council's offer of an increaso from the existing rates (Is. Sd. and Is. Vid.) to Is. 9d. and Is. 113 d. respectively, for conductors and motormen, has been "turned down" by, the Wellington Tramwaymen's Union. Ilia tramwaymen still adhere to the demand for a minimum of Is. lid. per liour ,(for j lowest grade conductors) and 2s. 3d.' per hour (for highest grade motormen), with corresponding increases in other sections. In its offer to the men the Financo Committen also agreed to other concessions, including overtime payment after eighti hours, instead of nine hours, as at present. and an extension of ten minutes m the tiino allowed for meal reliei. In notifying tho Mayor yesterday of the reieetion of the councils proposals, the union asked for n further conference. andi the position will be reported to Monday afternoon's meeting of the Tramways Committee. Asked as.to what additional annual financial, burden would be cast upon the tramway system by the granting of tho 'council's concessions. Mr. Luke informed a Dominion reportor that it was impossible 'to give an exact estimate off-hand, but taking everything into consuleratton. M amount of .£30,000 or ~£40,000 would probably be, involved. As a result an increase in tram faies .miot necessarily, follow. ( '. AUCKLAND DISPUTE. According to a private telegram received in Wellington yesterday the final offer of-the Auckland City Council to. tho Auckland trainwav men-an increase of !!1 per week and a six-day week—has been roiectcd by the northern union. Tho Mayor ■of Auckland (Mr. -J. H. Gunsori) stated recently hat the extra amount which tho council would have to pav bv way of increased wages would probably he' not lew; than .£70,000 a year. The council had decided tha the only practical provision tnofc could bo nindu was by increasing the fares.