CHRISTCHURCH TRAMWAY GRIEVANCES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9178, 23 June 1908, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH TRAMWAY GRIEVANCES.

Press Association. Christchurch, June 23. Further developments in connection with one of the grievances complained of by tramway employees in this city took place at a largely attended meeting of the Christchurch Tramway Employees’ Union yesterday morning. The matter dealt with was the reply received from the Tramway Board to the Union’s re-, presentations protesting against the Board’s new system, which is being tried for three mouths, whereunder conductors’ surplus cash is considered the property of the Board, and conductors are called upon to make up any deiioiences by. finding the same out of their own pockets. The Board’s reply to the Union’s protest was contained in the report of the Staff Committee submitted at the annual meeting of the Board on Monday last. The report showed the inception of the new system the amount .of deficiencies and surpluses had decreased There were close upon one hundred members of the Union present yesterday morning’s meeting, which lasted for over two hours. The Hon. J. Barr was also present. After a long discussion the Secretary of the Union moved : “(1) That conductors received l>du per hour over and above their” ordinary wages as an allowance for possible shortages. (2) That 2s 6d of the amount of surplus cash paid in by any one conductor during any one week te treated as a set off to shortages during that week and that the balance at the end of each week be transfered to the revenue fund of the Board.”, The two suggested proposals contained in the Secretary’s motion were put separately, with the result that No. 1 (the per hour increase in wages) was agreed to, and No. 3 (the deduction of 2s 6d from each man’s surplus to be a set off against deficiences) was negatived. Motion first moved ; “That c three months’ trial be c 5 ’ new system” was negatl\