Enormous Shrinkage.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 22, 26 January 1914, Page 5

Enormous Shrinkage.

—♦- U.S.S. CO. AMD THE STRIKE STATEMENT BY SIR J. MILLS. IBy Electric Telegraph—Copyright]

[United Press Association ! Auckland, January 20

Sir James ..Mills, interviewed on his way to Sydney and England, said that the strike and the smallpox epidemic had caused an enormous shrinkage in the passenger traffic between the Dominion and Australia and the Pacific islands.

Replying to criticism of the Union S.S. Co. respecting matters preceding the strike, and the statement that |the Company had entered into an (agreement with the Federation of 'Labor and that the Company did not seriously oppose the demands by the employees, he said that when the demands were made by the employees the Company had to consider not only the Company's own interests but those of the public as well. As a question of fairness to the employees in the recent dispute, the issue was not a question of wages. Public sympathy was with the Company to a large extent. The strike had been caused by the Company resisting demands for increased wages. The very people who blamed the Company for making concessions without showing fight would be the first to accuse the Company of selfishness and disregard of the interests of the public. No doubt the Company very often temporised to avoid a strike, not for Tear of jeopardising their own interests but because a strike would lead to loss to others.

As to "passing it on," Sir James said that, speaking from memory, the Company only made one increase in charges, whicn was two years ago, when not half was'passed on to the public. Since then , many increases had been forced upon the Company ►or additional manning ami higher wages, and they had to put no with less efficient service from their employees. But the burden of all these, the Company had to hear.

Sir James said he hardly liked to say what the late strike cost the Company. Tt had been very considerable, but so far the Company had not passed it on.