ANXIOUS MOMENTS.

The fact that the result of the men’s ballot had been expected to be made known about 5.30 p.m., and that so long a delay occurred in its announcement, gave rise to disquieting rumours of a breakdown, and it then transpired that certain complications had arisen owing to the attitude which had been adopted by the Ilford, Bexley, and Erith Councils. Colour was given to the rumours of a hitch by Mr. Bevin, Mr. Cliff, and other union officials leaving the executive meeting shortly after six o’clock for the Ministry of Labour, where they had gone, it was believed, to discuss the situation in regard to the three authorities above-named. They were only absent for about a quarter of an hour, and soon after their return they were joined by Mr. Fred Bramley, secretary to the Trades Union Congress.

Doubt as to a settlement, however, was soon afterwards set at rest by the appearance of Mr. Ben Tillett, M.P., who, on leaving the committee room, observed to the Press:

There is a good result, and you will get the figures directly. A few minutes later Mr. Cliff made the official announcement, as above, and in regard to Ilford Council stated that they had agreed to accept the terms. Special arrangements were being made, he added, to meet the position of Enth and Bexley, where the tramwaymen would resume work. Trial cars, he added, would be run over all the services at once, and as many men as possible would be got back to work in order that the early morning services might be restored.

Altogether some 17,000 tramway members of the Transport Union were balloted, the terms offered by the various tramway undertakings being clearly set forth on the ballot paper. The papers were handed in at the various strike centres throughout the metropolitan area, about ninety polling branches in all. The poll closed at one o’clock to enable the counting to be completed by four o’clock, and the result telephoned or telegraphed to the offices of the union at Central Buildings, Westminster.