WELLINGTON TRAMWAY STRIKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1002, 3 February 1912, Page 3

WELLINGTON TRAMWAY STRIKE.

STRIKERS DEMAND FULLER’S DISMISSAL

AND INDEMNITY AGAINST LEGAL PENALTIES.

COUNCIL PREPARED TO TRANSFER FULLER.

Wellington, Feb. i

Throughout the afternoon a rather hopeful feeling was prevalent that an early settlement of the tramway trouble would be brought about, this being based on the important statement that Inspector Fuller was prepared to accept, and the Council to give him, some position of employment other than that ot a ticket inspector.

The position is now, however, less optimistic, as the strikers are demanding Fuller’s dismissal from the service, as well as a guarantee that the union shall not suffer loss through proceedings being taken against them for striking.

The power house staff struck at midnight, but so far the authorities have been able to keep up sufficient supply of current to meet all requirements, and will do so while the coal supply lasts. There is sufficient iu hand for a fortnight.

The wharf labourers refused to unload coal from a hulk for use by the Corporation.

A manifesto addressed to the workers of Wellington and New Zealand has been issued by Mr Young (chairman of the Strike Committee) and Mr Sutherland (Tramway Union’s secretary). It states principally : "Our fight is not against the city, but against the City Council, and against it only so far as it is an employer bent on crushing our self-respect and good name, and ramming down our throats an inspector whose very presence in a respectable post provokes irritation, hostility and incipient mutiny." At a meeting of the Canterbury Trades and Uabour Council tonight a motion was agreed to sympathising with the Wellington tiamwaymen in their efforts to secure a settlement of the dispute with the Wellington City Council, and wishing the men every success in their efforts.

At a mass meeting in Newtown Park the following resolution was declared carried : ‘‘That this mass meeting of citizens congratulate the Tramway Union upon its magnificent stand for the principles of unionism, and calls upon the City Council to recognise unionism by effecting a settlement of the strike upon lines agreeable to organised labour." The strike committee is taking every precaution to see that the cars are not put into commission during the time the Union remains out. Twenty-five men volunteered for picket duty, and the first relief took post at 6 a.m. to-day. The Thorndon and Newtown sheds are being watched, also the power house.

Wellington, Feb. 2

At 12 o’clock the City Council committee and representatives of the strike committee were still in conierence, discussing the proposed settlement of the strike.

It is understood at this stage that the Council as a whole is prepared to concede as the maximum the transference of Inspector Fuller,

The strikers idea of liability for indemnity is not entertained by the Council.

Yesterday the City Council were in treaty for the whole day with the strike committee, discussing possible terms of settlement. The most important of the demands made on behalf of the Union men —that for an indemnity against possible penalties for breach of the strike clauses of the Arbitration Act —the Council refused to discuss, and rejected it out of hand. The other demands they acceded to in effect, and the representatives of the strikers who met them decided to accept the Council’s terms, with professed reluctance, and to submit them to the union at a meeting in the Concert Chamber in the evening. At this meeting the union took exception to the phrasing of one clause in the Council’s terms —

“ That Inspector Fuller be transferred at his own request to another branch ot the service-” What the union men objected to in particular was the phrase, “at his own request.” They would not authorise their delegates to sign anything of the sort, and they therefore rejected the terms. The Council had dispersed long before this, and Councillors understood then that they had said their last word. It was arranged that they should meet again this morning to ratify the agreement if there should be any to be ratified, bat now that their terms have been rejected, it is improbable that they will meet. It is unlikely, therefore that negotiations will be reopened to-day. Nothing further has transpired to-day.