WELLINGTON TRAMWAYS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10546, 31 January 1912, Page 5

WELLINGTON TRAMWAYS

THE APPROACHING STRIKE. (By Telegraph — Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. The 'Executive of the Tramway EmI ployecs Union is pursuing a policy of secrecy. This morning a meeting of the Executive too*- place, when, there were present representatives of nearly all the Unions belonging to the Trades and Laibour Oouncils, including Mr W. T. Young, President of tihe Trades and Labour Council, and secretary of the Seamen's Union; M. J. Reard'on, secretary of the (General Labourers' Union; E. J. Carey, secretary of the vjooks, and Waiters' lUnion; W. C. Nbot, secretary of the Electrical Workers' Union, >3>. Rlackie, ' secretary of the Drivers' Union, and other Union secretaries. The position was explained to tine visitors by f Mr Sutherland, secretary of tlie 11 ) apd r "thep. Jthe party, ad|ournw to theV.ciu!troonV.pf the car' ■6'clooky • and o'clock: : Representatives of other 'Union* were rec«iv^^witlh tramwayineh present,. the room being crowded. Speeches were delivered' by, the labour leaders: present, who as-, sured the tramwaymen of the support of tihe various workers represented. The remarks of the various speakers were received with cheers.;and applause/ especially the exportation of one secretary, who urged, the tram-, ■■waymenito' stand .-firm to their principles and fight their cause to rthe finish. The.situation was discussed gen; erally, and the result was an agreement to strike. What'particular .policy the Executive proposed to adopt, and when the strike will take place, none of the ' tramwaymen present would divulge. A pledge of secrecy has been given by the tramwaymen .present; It is quite possible that work will cease at! ,1 moment's notice.

The City Council, at the time or" writing, has not yetl received any notice rem the Unioii of it& intention to leave wx>rk.

The tramwaynien, according to tfae Statement of several to-day, aire very loth to strike, but on principle they feel that there is notliinix .for them to do but to cease work rml&s-B Inspector Fuller resigns. , The men employed in the . powerhouse and car-idieds arc all to come out in sympathy with tlhe men, and the Uroiotis belonging to the Federation of Labours-represented by Mr P. Hickey, are determined to support the tramway neop'e in every possible way. . • It is understood that the signing of tJie notice to be «ent to the .City Council of tlie'indention of the Union to cease work has been completed. The men bad a further meeting tonight, at which addresses were delivered by representatives of both Federations of Labour. It is ufiderstbod the cars will cease running from. 2 to '4 p.m. tomorrow, in order to get a full "meeting of men, and that this meeting will decide ■ Whether the "strike-sihall -"take place, and, if go, wihen. '." ' ■