THE TRAMWAYMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1920, Page 4

THE TRAMWAYMEN.

NOT SATISFIED WITH NEW AGREEMENT WANTED. The tramways manager (Mr. R. H. Bartley) forwarded to last night's meeting of the Borough Council, two letters he had received from the secretary of the Tramway's Union and asking if the Council intended to re-open the matter of rates. He anticipated very little difficulty in coming to an arrangement the Union was prepared to deal with the matter. The lirst letter from the Union asked that the Council should receive a deputation to discuss the matter. Th? second letter stated that the rates of pay in the Council's resolution of June 1 had already been turned down by the Union, which was not willing to sign up until a scale of wages had been agreed upon by both parties. The proposed agreement was the soma which had been before the Council previously, and had been turned down because the Arbitration Court had not yet given a decision in the matter. The tramways manager said he had received a letter from Mr. FraJ)k Thompson, general manager of the Phristchureli tramways, stating that the Arbitration Court had not yet made Iti decision. "Mr, Bartley asked that the Council should make up its mind to adhere firmly to any decision it might come to, not that he anticipated Miy trouble, but he wanted the Council to adopt a definite stand. The general manager said they would probably not hav c heard of the mattei again if it had not been for the increase in fares. Regarding, the increase in fares there had been a good deal oi misconception, added Mr. Bellringer. Th» public seemed to think the increases were made in order to meet the demands of the men. This was not so. The trams had not been paying under the Old penny sections, and it was in order ,to make up accumulated losses, and also to meet increased cost of materials and wages, that the fares had been in« creased. . ... Mr. Bartley said the trams would hare paid under the old penny sections if it had not been for increases in material and wages, due to the war conditional The Council decided to reply that it was not prepared to discuss the Question of wages, preferring to await the decision of the Arbitration Court In this respect, but that the engineer would digcuss with representatives of the Union the ordinary conditions, and failing thfc conference coming to an agreement, the Council would endeavour to settle the matters in dispute.