THE TRAMWAY DEADLOCK.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1920, Page 4

THE TRAMWAY DEADLOCK.

RATES OP WAGES IN OTHER CENTRES. HIGHER FARES LIKELY. The electrical engineer aid trafflwaya manager (Mr. H. R. Bartley) reported to the Borough Council last iright th«s he had received word from ©lristchuroh to •the effect that the tramway employees there had recently received an all-round increase in wages of ly«d per hour, and the rate now being paid was ihe same as that offered by the Borough Council to the local men. Word has also been received from Dunedin to the effect that* the rates there were Is 4d for conductors and Is 6id for motormen, plus a 3sd bonus, which caibe to id per hour less than the offer to tha local men. It was not , clear whether overtime was paid on the bonus. In tta New Plymouth Council's offer the increase was made on wages, and not as a bonus, and, therefore, carries overtime 011 the full amount of the new rate offered. In the annual balance shefet of the New Plymouth Tramway Department, submitted to the Council last night, the General Manager, in referring to means for meeting the unavoidable increases in the working expenses, said the Council would have to seriously consider following the lead of other tramway undertakings, and increase the fares. He<belleved a minimum fare of twopence would in the end mean a substantial permanent increase in the revenue.