The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5.. 1912.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3441, 5 February 1912, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5.. 1912.

According to the latest news to hand matters in . connec-

A tore Trouble Ahead!

tion with the tramways strike at Wei-

lingt-on have reached a critical stage. It is now reported, it will be seen, that the strike executive have decided that unless a conclusion satisfactory to the tramway workers is reached by noon to-day. other unions will be called out. Whether it is intended—if such a contingency should arise—to confine the strike to the Empire City alone is not quite clear. In this connection it will be remembered that there lias been some talk of outside unions, such as the Miners' Federation, being asked to strike in order to try and force a settlement of this, unfortunate dispute. For our own part we sincerely trust that an amicable understanding with reference to the whole matter may at once be possible. Everybody must fully realise how much loss and misery would be entailed by a general strike, even if it were restricted to Wellington and nobody could tion. estly say that they would be other than very much grieved should such a condition of affairs eventuate. To our way of thinking a general strike in any portion of the Dominion at the present time would be nothing less than a national misfortune. It is not the actual monetary loss that would be certain to take place which we have in mind. The fact is that at the present juncture a very great strain is being placed upon the whole of the law in this country relating to the control of industrial disputes. Union after union is cancelling its registration under the Arbitration Act. What will, of course, be necessary as soon as it is possible, is a thorough overhaul of the existing legislation with a view to the introduction of, perhaps, quite a different system of dealing with disputes, etc. Thus it is probable that if there should bo a great industrial upheaval at the present time the consequences might- indeed be very far-reacliing in character. As to the particular dispute in question, it is, of course, wellknown that there was no question as to hours of labor, amount of payment, or any of the usual points which have to be settled in connection with industrial disputes. Boiled down it merely resolved itself into the question as to whether a certain official should be allowed to retain his present- position—that of an inspector. Now, however, a far more important- question lias arisen. The Union resolved that the Couuul should 1 be asked to relieve the inspector of his duties. Upon the casting vote of the Mayor it was decided to accede to the request. When, later, the Council decided to hear the charges which were brought against- the man. the Union withdrew on account of the fact that he was allowed to be represented by a. solicitor. It was then upon reconsideration deckled by the Council that the inspector should be retained in bis present position. Hence •• i ilktrouble and the fact that there lias now arisen the question: Who shall control the service—the Council or the Union ;- It- would really seem that the Council lias not- got a very business-like way of dealing with such matters. If ithad it would have stuck to its original decision. Seeing that so much friction had existed all along it- would have been far better to transfer the official, as was at first deckled, even if tne charges against fiim had entirely failed. The result will be now that the official will after all have to go to another department—or position which he thoroughly recognises. As for the union, it has also blundered —and even very much more badly than the Council. What bad it to lose by a solicitor representing the official at the enquiry ? Nothing at all. As we have said, it could not have followed at all that t-be official would be retained in his present position even if it had been found that ho had not- transgressed any of the written rules and regulations. Want of sufficient tact-, say, might have been eon Tiered by the Council as an ample

ground to warrant them in «*<*»»* their original decision. _ may, there can be no possib • for bio action of the workers m holding up such an important service as tht tramways practically without any notice. As we have already remarked we can only hope that no turthe. dok in the matter of a settlement of the dispute will be experienced.