THE SYDNEY TRAMWAY STRIKE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9154, 29 July 1908, Page 5

THE SYDNEY TRAMWAY STRIKE.

MATTERS QUIET,

EARLY SETTLEMENT OF TROUBLE EXPECTED.

Received July 28, 10.fi p.m. SYDNEY, July 28

Strike matters are quiet

The fear of a general call out of workers has given place to the expectancy that the trouble it is nearing an end. The strong stand taken by the Government, while at the same time offering the strikers the olive branch, 'has had an undoubted eflect. Then,too, the weather has been unfavourable factor in the men's cause. Another day of drenching rain—which tonight shows no indication of cessation, prevented anything in the shape of a public demonstration, and helped to damp their enthusiasm. The strikers congregated in the Trades Hall and in the vicinity of the various tramsheds, doing picket duty.

Though the big majority declare their determination to stand by the leaders, they admit there have'been desertions.

The tramway authorities are besieged with applicants, and have withdrawn the notices asking outsiders to apply for work. They state that so many men sought to be reinstated to-day that there is no further need of outsiders.

Received Ju'y 28, 10.12 p.m. SYDNEY, July 28

When the Assembly met, MrMcGowen asked Mr Wade if the strikers returned to work would he give instructions that there should be i:o victimising them for striking.

Mr Wade said that it was a matter for the Chief Commissioner to decide, but the men could trust his good faith and sense of justice. Mr Wade gave an assurance that there would be no wholesale victimising. At the same time the claim of those who had remained loyal and just would be recognised. The Commissioner must use his own discretion in refusing to employ any man whom he believed to be disloyal to the Government or likely to exercise an injurious effect on discipline. Received July 29, 12.40 a.m. SYDNEY, July 28. A Loyalty Fund, promoted by the President of the Employers' Union, and Chairman of the Stock Exchange, has been established with the object of rewardins the tramwaymen who stuck to their duties. Already over £BOO has been subscribed. Received July 29, 1.8 a.m. SYDNEY, July 28. Mr McGowan is conferring with the leaders of ,the strike at thu Trades Hall. In the meantime Parliament is marking time on the censure debate awaiting his return with the decision regarding the strike. There are persistent rumours that the strike is likely to be declared off to-morrow. ,

The strike was practically the outcome of what is known as the Croucher .case. At a meeting of tramwaymen on the 15th inst. Mr Lawton reported that the c-xecutiva recommended that a deputation wait upon the Chief Commissioner to demand the re-instatement of Conductor Croucher, and that the system of special officers should - be abolished, and that the matter be treated as one of urgency. The execucive believed that Croucher, dismissed for an alleged cash irregularity, was an int.ocent man. There was the case, too, of Conductor Frecston, who had been dismissed for alleged Dishonesty. The men did not believe that he was dishonest, and to show their implicit faith in his honesty they had given him a medal. Then there was the case of Edgar Alexander. Alexander was punished on a charge of selling an expired ticket. The Appeal Court sustained his appeal. That showed that the system was unreliable—(cheers)— and that it was possible of abuse. The union had obtained legal opinion, and Mr Blacket, the barrister, had expressed the view that a wrong-fully-dismissed tramway official could not bring an action against the Chief Commissioner for wrongful dismissal. Mr Blacket wrote that he came to the decision with reluctance that the employee had no remedy at law. The -union was prepared to go to any extreme to have Croucher's character cleared. Finding Croucher guilty made him a felon. Mr Lawton said that Croucher valued his character much more than the work given by the commissioners. If the private inspectors boarded a car and bought tickets, a conductor would not know of it until a day or two days later. There was thus no opportunity for the conductor to obtain witnesses. If the inspectors, when they bought a ticket, went up to the conductor and said: "Here, initial this ticket," then the conductor would know what was going to happen, and could pre pare his defence. Mr Lawton said that men should be treated as men, and not be dogged as if they were criminals. He hoped.'however, that they would be unanimous in any action decided upon, and that if Croucher was badly dealt with, as they believed him to be, they should stick to him and defend him to the utmost. After discussion it was decided—"That the executive wait upon the Chief Commissioner and demand the immediate abolition of the special officer system; that Conductor Croucher be reinstated; that the Chief Commissioner treat the matter as one of urgency; and that special meetings be called to receive the commissioner's answer." It was further resolved that Croucher should be paid the wage he had been receiving from the department until the matter was determined one way or the other.