TRAMWAY STRIKE IN MELBOURNE. OVER 400 MEN REFUSE TO WORK

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 243, 25 February 1888, Page 8

TRAMWAY STRIKE IN MELBOURNE. OVER 400 MEN REFUSE TO WORK

(liV TKLEGICAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Mki.boi7rne, February 14. BfcTWjGEN 400 and 500 employees of the> Melbourne Tram way Company wenfcon strike to-slay, owing to the directors declining^ to uccusde to their proposal to compel all beginners to join the union. About one-third of the cars usually running ■were employed, beginniug about 10 o'clock, the intention being to stop nfc 7 p.m. Very fow pawjengerH were travelling, a=> violence was apprehended. One tram on passingtho Tiadeshall was struck by a heavy stone, Air Phillips, a banister, who was on the platform; having a narrow er<eapo. A masemeeting of theetnployees was held; shortly before 10 o'clock thid morning at tho-Tradea-halA, Mr Searle,, president of the union, presiding, when the strike was fully discussed, the general feeling of the men 1 Joeing to maintain their position of antagonism until their demands were complied with. Communications were received trom the flJrades'-haJil Council, urging the men to submit the case to arbitiatioix. and a resolution was passed agreeing to-do so, provided no additional beginners were appointed in the interim by the company. With regard to the proposal of tho tramway employees now out on strike that the matlor in dispute should be referred to arbitration, and. that in the meantime the company should engage to employ no> moreprobationers-, the directory to-night forwarded a reply to the president of theunion declining to adopt tho-fauggestion.

The Directors Kemain Firm. Melbourne,. February 16< The tramway employees' strike still continues, but no-important developments were made to-day. Tho lines are now well patronised and tho public seem to have gained confidence that no violence will bo resorted to. The goneral opinion is that tha men have- ov-er-esUmated.their strength.