Last Friday-was the second day of the strike of the French Tramway workers, and there was no change in the firm attitude taken by both sides. _During the afternoon representatives of the Company's Traffic Department met eight of the men' delegates, but as no instructions have been received from their Paris Office, the Shanghai office was not in a position to grant an increase in wages.
After some. discussion, negotiations were again broken off. We understand that the Chinese employees submitted the following demands (1) That the rule of the Shanghai Et€ctrie Construction Ca., in the International Settlement, of granting one month's extra pay at the end of each year, be adopted by the French company and that the money be now paid.
(2) That the wages of the men be increased by 20 per cent.
(3) That when conductors or drivers fall sick, medical expenses be paid by the company.
(4) That the regulations governing the imposition of fines be revised.
It was thought advisable to run two cars to bring members of the depot staff, and other loyal workmen, to and from their homes. A ®uropean belonging to the office staff was driving one of these "'specials.'"
Everyone, and particularly business men, were thankful to find the French Concession trams running on Monday, after a strike lasting four days. In spite of the numberless difficulties in working which usually arise out of a strike of such dimensions, a full service had been resumed. On Saturday there were two meetings between the Tramway Company and their employees. First of all the men were asked to go back under the old conditions, but later in the evening delegates from the conductors and motormen were given to understand that, if their men returned to work immediately, a 20 per cent. increase in wages would be grant. ed. The Chinese press states that the workers agreed to a "compromise,' but it is known that both sides were satisfied with the result of the negotiations, and it is to be hoped that there will be a lasting -peace on the tramways. On the third day of the strike it was proposed to submit the question to arbitration by the French Consul-General.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.