RAILWAY STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 183, 29 April 1920, Page 6

RAILWAY STRIKE

A.S.R.S. JOIN LOCO. MEN

. NORTH ISLAND LINES ONLY

AFFECTED

BDSINESS MEN SUGGEST NEGOTIATIONS

MEAGRE SUBURBAN SERVICES RUN

As is iißual in the first days of a strike, there was almost complete paralysis of the service yesterday. It is always necessary for the authorities to take stock of the position to find out what resources in labour they are likely to have for any attempt to restore' services. This, it is understood, they have been trying to do. Some very few suburban trains were run out of Wellington yesterday morning and evening, and possibly about tho same sort of service will be run to-day, but as to tho continuance even of this very meagre service there is grave doubt, and even more doubt as to the increasing of it. Especially is this so in view of the decision of the traffic men to come out to-day. It is even doubtful whether it .will bo possible to maintain for long the services in tho South Island. Yesterday , the South Island services were maintained normally, nnd also tho Whangarei section. about 80 miles in all, was not affected. Some sort of suburban service was run out of Auckland.

The Prime Minister, who is also Minister of Railways, was at Rotorua when ho Teceived news of the strike. Mr. MasBoy left Rotorua yesterday morning by motor, and he is hurrying to Wellington by way of Napier. Ho 6hould hays reached Napier last'night, and he should be in Wellington to-night. Until Mr. . Massev arriyes hero it is unlikely that anything; definite will be done towards a settlement of the strike. An effort to promote a settlement, was made last- niulit by the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, who suggested to the loco.' men that they Should allow a committee of independent business men to consider the disputa and make recommendations. The executive of the E.F.C.A., after consideration, replied that no move of the kind suggested could bo made m-.til they had seen the Prime Minister and received certain assurances. : 'The decision of the A.S.R.S. to go on strike in the North Island was announced last night. Many men on the night phift stopped at oncn. This extension of the strike involves all the men engaged in the traffic branch, including guards, signalmen, shunters, porters, platelayers, nnd workshop hands. Tho officers of the Railway Officers' Institute, which embraces the First Division, have indicated that their members are not prepared to accept duty in substitution, for the strik «rs. .

THE LOCO. MEN STOPPAGE VIRTUALLY COMPLETE. Tho stoppage of the members of the Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association in the North Island geeraa to have 'been virtually complete. The men did not all e-easo work at midtight on Tuesday, .the time stated in the announcement issued by their executive. Tifry'completed the duties on which they Were engaged, and no trains were left with journeys (incompleted. But each tram crew stopped work when it had returned its engine to the sheds, and no new work was undertaken by the members after midnight. The engine sheds, at Thorndon were full yesterday morning and a few locomotives had to stay outS 'Mr W. M'Arley, secretary of the E.F.C.A., told a Dominion reporter yesterday that reports from all parts of the North Island showed that the stoppage was. complete as far as the members 01 his organisation were concerned, ine Department had been able to run a lew ' suburban trains, but this had been done Without the services of the members ol ihe E.F.C.A. He had heard of only ono ■member who had not ceased work, and there appeared to be some doubt about this case. "Xou can say that 100 per cent; of the men oro out," said Mr. 'M'Arley. "The members of the associa. tion are absolutely solid. In fact, at ono place the percentage is 101—all tho mem. ' bers of the association and one loco, man, who is not a member, but who has stopped all . the same." The stoppage in the North Maud involved albout (03 men, the total p-.ombership of the association being over 1300. , , The executive of the E.F.C.A. met at Intervals yesterday and dealt with vanens matters as they arose. Mr. MArley stated that his executive was not in comtaunicatiori. with .the Amalgamated So- : oiety of Railway Servants, and he had "to official' information concerning the intentions of the traffic branch. The ie« Sports from' the districts indicated thai '■'the railwaymen generally were going to ptand together.

! APPEAL FROM MR. MASSEY LOCO. MEN'S REPLY. '■■A. fuxthor exchange of telegrams between the Prime Minister and the secretary of -the E.F.C.A. took place late on Tuesday sight and yesterday morning. Replying to a telegram from Mr. Massey stating that he intended to publish the statement mado by Mr. M'Arley before the Railway Commission and let tho public judge for themselves if the striko was justified, the secretary replied: "The executive is pleased with the step you ore taking, and directs me to advise you that the whole of the evidence beforo- tho board and the manager,s replies also other interesting sidelines, have'been printed in pamphlet form, and are now in the hands of the newspapers all over Now Zealand, and copies are 'available for the publio. We are of one m itr.' Massey telegraphed to Mr. M'Arley yesterday morning: , - "I am leaving for Wellington presently, but Wore doing so let one appeal to you to call the strike off until, the visit of the Prince of Wales has come to an end. For this purnoso a complete resumption of the railway services is absolutely essential until at least the date of his departure.-W. F. Massey. Mr M'Arley replied: "Your telegram to hand'. Tho executive expected you here on Tuesday night, and I am advised to state that until, you reach here we have no power to call the strike off. I desire to respectfully-add that delay makes the matter of early settlement difficult.

A.S.R.S. JOIN IN

branches, and also with the empliatio decision by a secret ballot in favour of a strike, we can no longer take any other course than that now adopted. Our ballot was a very big one. Wo have tlio ballot papers hero in our own office, and if there is any question raised as to the number of votes accorded, or 11s to how the mon voted, our ballot papers are open for inspection by any responsible officer of the Government, should such a scrutiny be desired." Interest of the Men. When the executive of' the A.S.R.S. was sitting last night to consider what action should be taken by the society in tho strike, there was a crowd of several hundred railwaymen waiting below in the street to hear the result. When the announcement was made to them that the A.S.R.S. were in the strike from that moment, the crowd cheered very loudly, and received the news with quite evident satisfaction.

STRIKE WITHOUT NOTICE DECISION OF THE BALLOT The following telegram was sent last right to the Prime Minister by the executive of the Amalgamated Society ot Railway Servants:— Recent ballot overwhelmingly in favour of general strike, pur repeated representations to tho Government and the Department that the situation was critical not hav.ing been taken seriously, we have nov no alternative but to give effect to the members' decision, forthwith, For the present tho strike ■ will be confined to the North Island. (Szd.) R. HAMPTON, President. (Sgd.) M. J. MACK, Secretary. Tji a statement on "the situation to a reporter Mr. Hampton said: "I myself and my executivo have done our utmost right up to the last minute to avert the spreading of the striko. Wo had hoped that some reply would have ' reached us to-day from tho Prime Jinistor that our request for a meeting Sudor the Labour Disputes Investigam Act would be granted. Had this Dome through I believe my executive' . eould have staved off the spread of the i(trouble tat in the absence of any reand with pressure ' from our

A train left Wellington for Pctone and Lower Hutt shortly beforo.B a.m. It was manned by a locomotive foreman, with a headquarters man as fireman and a running foreman for a guard. There was some difficulty about securing a crcw at all. Tho work was not undertaken willingly, but tho Authorities pointed OTt that a large number of people, including women and children, were going to be greatly inconvenienced if there was no train at all. Some workers bound for Ngahauranga, Kaiwarra, and Petone used this- train, but others who had assembled at the station did not &o aboard.

This train got to its destination after being delayed at Petono by an adverse signal. It then made tho return journey to the city. - Many workers and business people had gathered on the Petone platform, and • a section of them made n demonstration of disapproval about the use of the train. A few people were induced-to leave th© train after taking their seats, but others came through to Wellington. The samo train crew took a mixed train out to Petono at 10.40 a.m. This train consisted of aboat thirty trucks carrying stock and two passenger carriages, which conveyed fewer than a dozen passengers. It was mn on account of the stock, which could not be held in the Wellington yards indefinitely. The train then returned to Wellington.

SUBURBAN SERVICES YESTERDAY'S SCANTY TRAINS. The railways made an attempt to run suburban trains to and from Wellington yesterday, but the service was very limited indeed, and a vast amount of inconvenience was caused to suburban residents. No train went out from Wellington on the Johnsonville lino in the afternoon and evening, and many hundreds of people hod to undertake a long tramp (,-vcr the hills.

A third train, to run to Upper Hutt, was announced to leavo Lambton Station at 5.15 p.m. A very .largo crowd of people, obviously including many hundreds- who had not used th« train in the morning, assembled on the platform soon after 5 p.m., and they filled a long train. This train did not get away until 5.45 p.m., and in ihe meantime a group of the-striking locomotive men gathered by th© side of the engine. Thoy made no, open demonstration of their disapproval until the train was moving out, when a few insulting words were shouted to the engine crew and to tho passengers, who were accused of using a "scab train." No person appeared to be disturbed by the accusation..

A train consisting of an engine and four carriages left Thorndon for Jolmsonville at 8 a.m. Tho engine was driven by a locomotive foreman. This train had a stoppage at Ngaio, owing, it was stated, to action by tho traffic stall, and did not complete its journey in time to be of uso m bringing people to the city for work or business. The Auckland-Wellington express assisted by making some special stops at the suburban, stations, but most of the people from tho. northern suburbs had to walk to Wellington and walk out again in the evening.

-Motor-buses carried ft lot of people during the day on the Wcllington-Pe-tone-Hutt route. The charges wer.o high, the proprietors of the cars explaining that they had to make special arrangements at heavy cost and that they could not count upon holding the tirade for any long period. The Jolinsonvillo route was not served by motors to any extent. To-day's Services. The railway officials hope to give at least as good a servicc on the Hutt line to-day as they did yesterday, and to arrant for at least ■ one train morning nibl evening on the Johnsonvillo line. But the Department was not able to give definite infSrmation last night. The announcement of a strike by the A.S.R.S. may interfere with the arrangements that have been made, but tho Department will do its best to bring the suburban people into town before business hours and take them out again ufter five o'olock. ALLIANCE OF LABOUR BOARD MEETS TO-DAT. The declaration of a strike by the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants has tho effect of bringing the Alliance of Labour into touch with the dispute.. A meeting of the Advisory Board of the alliance is to bo held in Wellington to-day. The A.S.R.S. is affiliated to tho Transport Workers' Federation, which embraces the seamen, tho waterside workers, the drivers and tho tramwaymen. Tho federation is a part of the Alliance of Labour, which includes the miners. Tho Alliance of Labour has already handled tho railway dispute. It interviewed the Prime Minister some months ago in regard to the claims of the A.S.E.S., and the 'speakers indicated on that occasion that tho alliance was prepared to support the railwaymen.

EFFORT AT SETTLEMENT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SUGGESTIONS. , The president of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce (Mr. M. Cnrr) interviewed the executive of tho E.E.C.A. last evening, nnd made suggestions for a settlement of tho strike. lie proposed that the loco, men should agroo to refer tho dispute to a committee of business men, perhaps threo in number. Theso business mon, who would lie selected by tho men and tho Railway Department acting togother, would examine all tho facts and make recommendations for a settlement, the strike to he called off in tho meantime. Mr. Carr pointed out thnt sooner or lator tho dispute would reacli the stage of conciliation, and that tho sooner the better. A committee of the kind he Was suggesting would not bind tho men, but ho believed that it could devise a fair and safo basis of settlement.

strike was declared re,quire to bo discussed. Certain -preliminaries have got to bo arranged, relating to superannuation, victimisation, and that sort of thing. We appreciate very much the effort that the business men have made to bring about a settlement, nncl wo have informed Mr. Carr that wo shall bo pleased if lm will meet the Primo Minister and adviso him to bring' nbout a speedy settlement."

Mr. Carr nnd other mombors of his chamber discussed tho matter at 6omo length with the loco, executive. The discussion, he stated subsequently, lmd been thoroughly friendly in tone. The executive undertook to send Mr. Carr a reply during the night. Mr. M'Arley, secretary of the E.P.C.A., told a Dominion reporter later that the reply had been to tho effect that the executive must meet the Minister of Railways (Mr. Massey) Wore it could call the strike off. "It i 6 very necessary, that we see Mr. Massey beforo negotiations of- the kind suggested take place," he said. "Maw matters that have arisen since the