TRAMWAY BOARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 14 January 1931, Page 5

TRAMWAY BOARD

PROPOSED WITHDRAWAL FROM I.C. AND A. ACT (By Telegraph—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, 12th January. Exercising- the powers given it by law, the Christchurch Tramway Board is to try to withdraw from the jurisdiction of the Arbitration Court, and to appoint its servants for such terms as it thinks fit, This is in reply to the Tramway Union’s demands for proposals in the new award (the current one terminates on Ist February), involving an increase of £BOOO, with changes in the conditions adding further to the operating costs of the tramway service. The decision was made to-day by the board, on the recommendation of a subcommittee. Strong opposition came from Mrs E. R. McCombs, who accused the committee of giving publicity to the union’s demands without making it clear that the board’s counter-proposals involved a reduction of £II,OOO in wages. She also ridiculed the idea of any Parliament allowing the board to be the only local body outside the scope of the Court.

The chairman of the board (Mr E. 11. Andrews) maintained that no coun-ter-proposals had been made by the board, and so far no reduction in wages had been contemplated. He complained of the hard and fast attitude the union had taken up. To test the case the board is seeking to have its application heard at the session of the Supreme Court this month.