THE AUCKLAND STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 131, 25 May 1908, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND STRIKE.

AN ABOKTIVE CONFERENCE. I'er Press Association. r ,., . Auckland, Saturday. llie conference between Mr. Walklate, lire manager of the Tramway Company, and the unionists lasted two hours. Mr. Walklate olfercd to submit the whole of the matter,, in dispute to the Arbitration Court. Tin; Union insisted on an Appeal Hoard consisting of two on each side who should choose iin umpire. The conference proved futile', '.l'lii! committee (l f tho Union, before meeting Air. Walkhtte. decided to plead guilty to striking. DEADLOCK CONTINUES. MF.N PItOPOSK SPECIAL ARBITRATION HOARD.

Auckland, Last Night. A timber conference of (he men was held in the afternoon, which Air. Walklate attended. Prior to lii„ arrival, the executive of the Union strongly recommended the men to agree to an'arbitration board composed of twu members from the Union, two representing the company, and a Imii appointed bv the Government, before which all evidence should be laid, the proceedings to be open to the Press, and both parties l u abide by the derision, whatever it might be. ami that as *onn as the board was

satisfactorily appointed the cars shoul I resume running. While th t discussion was proceeding, and betore a vote was taken on tlit, proposal, .Mr. Walklate arrived and delinitely stated that the only thing he could do was to agree to submit the issues to the regular Arbitration Court. The meeting, however, objected to this course, as they were being charged before the Court, their spokesman ri aid, with offences involving imprisonment, and the Judge would give decisions on strict legal lines. Whereas the Union admitted that the management had law on its side in respect to one important issue, the Union was fighting for a moral right, namely, that men discharged with a week's wages should be allowed to know the reason why. They entered the service with a good character, and such a discharge would imply loss of character. Alter a desultory discussion, the conference ended with no decision having been arrived at. The men meet again on Monday, and it is more than probable that the strikers will agree to the executive's proposal for all arbitration board, which .Mr. Walklate does not favor, and so there is no sign ot a settlement of the trouble.

TROUBLE BREWINC IX CHRISTCHURCH. Christchurch, Last Nighl. At a mass meeting of the tramway employees this morning, it was resolved to send a deputation to the Hoard, asking Unit an outside person who was recently appointed a ticket inspector over their heads he retired; also to rcipu'sf a continuance of the system until recently in vogue by which surplus money-, brought in liv conductors should he placed to their credit a»<( u„ed as a set, -oil' against any subsequent deficiency. The Board'recently decided to abolish the system of crediting surpluses lo conductors, and compelled men to pay all delicicncics, out of Iheir own pockets. A resolution of sympathy was passed with the Auckland tramway employees.