SEQUEL TO STRIKE IN WAIKATO COAL MINES

Chronicle (Levin), 31 March 1947, Page 4

SEQUEL TO STRIKE IN WAIKATO COAL MINES

-Press Associaiion

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, March 30. ■ Drastic reductioiis in the railway sei'viees, includiiig the cancellation of the special ^rains scheduled for the Easter holidays, became opefative ih the Nortli island as from midnight tonight. These restrictions which are the most drastic ever imposed, involve a eut of two-thirds in the emefgehcy timetable which has operated hitherto. Subufban serviees will be restricted , to essential workefs' traihs morniiig- and .eV'eniilg, Monday to Friday, and all such serviees will be .cahCelled on Saturdfiys and Siuidays. The • ■ Wellington- johnsonville and Wellington-Paekahariki serviees are liot eftected as electric locomotion is used on these sections. So f ar as goods traffie is concerned, only shipping, perishable ,. and tirgeiit traffie will be aecepted for transport by rail as from tomorrow.

The Minister of Railways, Hon. R. Semple, stated tonight that it Was with' great regfet that he was Compelled to announce that, owing to the cessation of supplies of eoal from the Waikato mines, the Railways Department wotlld fepuire to introduce a severely restricted. timetable for- both passengers and goods in the f^orth Island as from midnight tonight. All special 'trains afrailged for Easter will be eaneelled and J all passenger l'eservations flnm Tuesday, Aprii 1, will also be cancelied, Refunds of fares paid will be made to passengers at railway booking offices. . The 3 p.m. expresses betWeen Wellington and Auckland will run only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. All other expresses such as the Wellington-New Plymouth, AVellington-Gisborne and Auckland-Rotorua, will run twice weekly, , The Limited expresses between Auckland and Wellington will run* tomorrow but they will be discontinued after that date. The present railcar service will not be disturbed. Railway buses will also continue to operate their existing serviees although no order of priority has been determined for reservations. Preferences will be given to people with retiirn tiekets so that tho'se away from their homes will be able to retiirn. The General-Manager of' Railways stated tonight that the new restrictions were the se'verest evef Imposed. The existing emergency timetable had been eut by twothirds to one-third of the. present Steam mileage.