AUCKLAND TRAMWAY STRIKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2070, 3 May 1907, Page 3

AUCKLAND TRAMWAY STRIKE.

Press Associatioii. AUC KLA ND, yesterday• The Arbitration Court yesterday commenced the hearing of the cases against the, Auckland Electric Tramways Company and certain of their employes, arising out of the trouble which caused a temporary suspension of the service in November last. Sydney Aliehaol Farrell and Edward Fletcher, employes of the Tramway Company, were charged with having committed a breach of section 15 of the 1904 amendment to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, which reads: “Any industrial association or employer, or any worker. whether a member of any such union or association or not, which or who shall strike, or create a lockput, or propose to aid or abet a strike or lock-out, shall bo guilty of ,an offence, and shall ho liable to a fine, and may be proceeded against in the same manner as if it or he were guilty of a breach of an award.” The penalty provided is not exceeding £IOO ill the case of employers and £lO ill the case of workers. The Auckland Electric Tramway Company was cited by the Inspector of Awards for a breach of clause 6 of the tramway

workers’ award, in that they dismissed fourteen employes without giving them a week’s notice, and without good cause. The case against the Company was taken first. Tlio Hon. J. A. Tole, in opening the ease, said that the Company admitted dismissing the men, but claimed that there

was good cause. Friction luid existed between the Company and the men, and in November last a rumor* gained currency among the men that the Company intended to put on large numbers of learners so as to have them, ready in case of emergency when getting rid of the malcontents. Next day (November 4tli) several men on being asked by the Company to teach learners, said they did not consider it to be part of their duties, and declined. Later in the day fourteen men were dismissed. In the evening after the trouble in connection with the strike that followed these dismissals was over, the men were allowed to resume work without

the express stipulation that in future they should teach learners.: The men who had previously taught learners held that it was a voluntary act, and not part of their duties. They considered that the teaching of learners should be carried out by specia 1 men Two motormen who wore called claimed that it was not part of their duty to teach learners, and that there was a risk to the public for their doing so. One of the motor-men, in cross-exam-ination, said that he did not know that in the Company’s book of rules there was a provision that motormen, when not instructing learners, were not to speak to anybody. The case was adjourned till to-morrow. In the course of evidence it was stated that at a meeting of employes on November 13tli a resolution was passed to the effect that until the trouble then existing -was settled the men would refuse to teach any more learners. Mr. T. Cotter, who appeared for the Company, said that when the manager received the notification of this resolution he replied stating that the teaching of learners was pa l't of the duty of motormen all the world oyer, and warning the men that any man refusing to do his duty in this respect would be liable to instant dismissal, and also that beginners were being taken on on account of the approach of the busy season, and the building of several new cars. Mr. Prendergast, who appeared on behalf of the two men charged with taking, part in a strike, said that they would plead guilty.

Continuing tho tramway case, the Arbitration Court to-day heard evidence of motormon regarding the custom of instructing learners. All agreed that it was a voluntary act. One witness said an accident occurred to his car while a learner was at the controller, and he was fined. Pie lost three days’ pay, but the Company paid Court costs and expenses. Other witnesses said the culminating point of the trouble was the failure of tho discharged conductor, Beesrtfim/iO vifjyiPre a hearing, and the places of all discontented- 1 eMpluyAhn Robert Hassell, motorolan, in referring to the alleged risk through teaching learners, said that since the strike he had had nil accident owing to teaching a learner and had been fined £2, tjio costs, £5, being paid by the Company. William George Bassett, formerly a employee of the Auckland liam ways Company, and latterly inspector ou tlie Christchurch tramways, said he had known motormeu at Christchurch refuse to teach learners without, being punished for it. Further hearing was adjourned till to-morrow.

niul more attention should bo givon to encouraging and 'assisting smaller unions. Against this it was urged that it' some such scheme was not adopted the boys would be diverted to otbor forms* of sport such as “Soccer” football, which was growing in favor. A vote was taken to test feeling Of the meeting went against the proposal. A motion to terminate the conference as being a more wasto of time was lost, and the mooting adjourned for lunch.

PROPOSED PROFESSIONAL TRAM. MAST.ISRTON, last, night. With reference to tho proposed professional team for Engln lid, two or three of the Rod Stars playors have been approaehod with a view to scouring their sorvicos,but they have oniphatioally declined to have anything to do with the project. It is stated that tho matter is being worked up from Wellington.

INTERNATIONAL BOARD 0: CONTROL. WELLINGTON, last night

At the football conference the delay experienced in obtaining replies to communications addressed to tho English Rugby Union was discussed. Tho opinion was expressed that an International Board of Control should be established, and that a lot of time hod been wasted in referring matters to England which could have been iloajt with by the New Zealand Union. N.Z. RUGBY UNION. AYELLINCTON, last night. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union was held this evening, Mr. C. T. C. Campbell presiding. The finances of tho Union showed a profit for the year of £302. Loans amounting to £3450 had been granted to the following Unions: Auckland £IOOO, .Taranaki £4OOO, Wanganui £750, Southland £I3OO, The sum of £9300 had been placed on fixed deposit. Tho chairman, in moving the adoption of the roport, spoke in flattering terms of tho tour of tho “All Blacks” in England, which had had a highly beneficial effect in tho promotion of Rugby football. He read a letter from the Stanford University, offering to send a team to New Zealand

to show the progress of the game in America through the visit of tho New Zealanders. The Stanford University team hoped to leave San Francisco on June 10th, arriving at Auckland about July Ist, and stay-

ing about six weeks in the colony. Air. Weir (II.B.) took exception to tho manner ill which tho secretary had been appointed, also tb the nonappointment of a manager for the North v. South Island match. The

earn, he alleged, was allowed to ■amble about at their own sweet will.

One man was in a state of intoxication. No one attended to the teams in the interval, all the officials being busy looking after the gates. AVliy also wore certain clubs allowed to secede from tlie Hawke’s Bay Union without tbe consent of that Union, and allowed to join another Union?

-Wore light should be shed iijion the doings of tho management committee, and the affiliated Unions shpuld be made acquainted with tho proceed in gs of the committee. The report and balance-sheet were

adopted. Mr. G. H. Dixon, on behalf of the Management Committee, moved that the New Zealand Rugby Union become incorporated under the Unclassified Societies’ Registration Act, 1906.—Carried. Mr. R. M. Isaacs (Otago) moved an amendment to rule 3 (control of the game) providing for the appointment of referees, such appointments to be made by anAppointment Board consisting of 20 members of the Management Committee and one member of the New Zealand Referees Association.—Carried on division.

Mr. W. M. J. Reardon (Bush) moved to amend rule 5 (officers) by providing that the secretary of the Union be not an honorary but a paid secretary. He said that the Union was a money-lending institution with a capital of over £12,000, and it was high time they had a paid secretary. —Carried. Dr. Newman (Wellington) moved that the Union revert to the old method of appointing vice-presidents—-one to be nominated by each Union instead of three being elected at the annual general meeting of the New Zealand Union. To this Mr. Laugsford (Auckland) moved a provision that vice-presi-dents must be resident within the boundaries of the Union nominating. Dr Newman's amendment was carried with the proviso. Mr. J. Hutchison (Otago) moved the deletion of sub-clause C of rule 15, that any one delegate may exercise all the votes to which his Union is .entitled.

Some objection was raised to the proposal on the ground that an injustice would thereby be done to the smaller Unions who could not afford to send the full number of delegates. —The motion was rejected and the old clause retained.

Mr. Skogland (Taranaki) moved to amend rule 16 in the direction of providing that the annual report and balance sheet shall be in the hands of affiliated Unions at least a fortnight before the annual meeting.— Carried. Mr. Campbell (Otago) moved in rule 26 (from the decision of the Management Committee on all matters coming within its poyvors pr refered to it there shall he no appeal) the deletion of the words “there shall ho no appeal,” and to substitute “there shall he a right of appeal to an Appeal Council to bo appointed by. the delegates af, the Appeal Council not to be members or the Committee of Management. Mr. Hales (Wairarapa) suggested that such appoint merits to the Appeal 1 Council should be made by the President as was done by the President of thp Racing Conference. Mr Campbell’s motion was carried. Mr. Murray moved to amend rule 32 (annual subscriptinos) by adding, “provided that the maximum subscription payable by aji.y Union shall

udtSsxcced £o 12s 6d.”—Carried. .INTJSUI’KOVrN'CIAIi SHIELD.

At the mmif.il meeting of the New Zealand Itogby Union Dr. Newman (Wellington) moved that the shield regidations be amended, to provide for the following:—“The competition ! for the shield to be between the provincial districts of Now Zealand; the shield to he held in the fi'rst place by the Union of the capital town of the province winning the same, any

Union within the province defeating the Union holding tiie shield to obtain possession and hold same oil behalf of the province; the shield match to be played on the ground of the Union that at the time of the match holds the shield.” The mover thought the present anomalous position should be remedied. It was felt that the shield’should be confined to provinces and not- to Unions.

Mr. G. H. Mason (Canterbury) maintained that the whole scheme was unworkable. The shield should be wiped out altogether. Once they started grubbing over who should fight for it they would create great dissension. Mr. White (Buller) said the idea was that if, say, the Wellington Union won the shield it should be wrested from them on their own ground. This would give country players an opportunity of coming directly under the eyes of the selectors of the New Zealand team. The motion was lost by 38 votes to 19.