THE WELLINGTON STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 185, 3 February 1912, Page 5

THE WELLINGTON STRIKE.

! THE COUNCIL WAVERING. AN ARRANGEMENT REJECTED BY THE STRIKERS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Efforts to settle the tram strike appear to have failed. Representatives of the Strike Committee and the City Council conferred all day* The men had submitted an ultimatum, demanding (1) the removal of Inspector Fuller from the service; (2) indemnity against legal prosecution for striking; (3) a guarantee against victimisation on resumption of work. Claim No. 2 was waived by the strikers' representatives. The other two were agreed to by the Council. Tlius a basis of settlement was reached for the consideration of the strikers. When the meeting of strikers took place objection was taken to the words, "at his own request," in the paragraph providing for Fuller's transference to other work. These words, it is claimed, had been inserted subsequent to the basis of agreement being approved by the Strike Committee. In any case the meeting to-night refused to agree to tke settlement unless the words, "at his own request," are deleted. In the meantime the Council had adjourned till to-morrow. "THE HOPE OF THE WORLD." Christchurch, Last Night. At a meeting of the General Laborers' Union to-night the following motion was agreed to unanimously: "We, the general laborers of Canterbury, extend our deepest sympathy with the Wellington tramway men in their present trouble; and believing that the solidarity of labor is the hope of the world, we therefore declare that this union can be counted on in this fight, and that vpur fight is our fight." ' It was further decided "that this meeting of general laborers strongly protest against the action of the military authorities in picking out a few of the boys who have refused to register under the Defence Act 1910 for prosecution, and we declare we will do all in our power to resist the Act." -

It was also decided to take a plebiscite on the question of voting £4O to assist the wives and children of the Lithgow strikers. LETTER BY INSPECTOR FULLER. Wellington, Yesterday. The Conciliation Commissioner has been engaged since 9 a.m. yesterday in an endeavor to promote a settlement. As a result of his mediations, Inspector Fuller has forwarded the following letter to the City Council:— "The Town Clerk, Dear Sir, connection with the tramway dispute; I desire to thank the Council for what it has done in respect to it 9 vindication of my character and the position I have taken up in the matter. Unfortunately, however, circumstances have arisen which plainly indicate to me that the position now occupied by me will be more or less untenable; and I do not wish that I should be personally the cause of inconvenience and suffering to the public. I am quite willing to place myself unreservedly in the hands of the. Council, trusting that. I may be transferred to some other branch of, the service, and to some position that, I can hold with justice to myself and satisfaction to the Department, and with a wish to promote a settlement of the grave difficulty that has now arisen. I hope that the desire I| have above expressed may meet with approval of the Council.—G. Fuller."