THE NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 4 December 1901, Page 4

THE NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY.

Practical Stoppage of the Works

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Auckland, December 4,

There has been a great deal of comment since the rumours that workmen were being discharged from the northern end of the Main T< unk Railway works took solid form. These comments developed into strong expressions of indignation to-day, when it became known that some two hundred workmen had been already " sacked " at the railway works, and that more were to follow. Telegrams which have passed between the Auckland members of Parliament and the Minister for Public Works have so far elicited no satisfactory rasponse, and the reticence of the Government served to deepen the mystery as to the reason for the dismissal of the men. About one hundred men discharged from the works came to town from Ongarue, the present terminus of the rails on the northern end of the Main Trunk Railway. In all about two hundred men engaged on the co operative works sy.«tem have been discharged so far, and •it is expected that a large number more will be knocked off in a few days. This means that the works at the northern side of the gap between the two ends is practically at a standstill, or will be in a day or two.

Mr. Fowlds, M.H.8., has wired south to ascertain whether similar dismissals are taking place, on the Midland Bailway. The real reason for the stoppage of works is, in his opinion, shortness of money. The Government, he suggests, is waiting until the new million loan for public works is available.

Whlvngton, Dee 3.

The Minister of Public Works states that trains will be running over the viaduct, on the Main Trunk Line in three month-'.