THE RAILWAY STRIKE.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1924, Page 2

THE RAILWAY STRIKE.

THE LATEST POSITION. There is nothing of any great import to report in reference to the strike. Both sides continue firm. There were no trains on Anzac Day. At 'Wellington, a skeleton service was run on Thursday. Labor reports state the men continue solid and determined. [by TKLEGIUril —PEIt PHESS ASSOCIATION’.] RAILWAY DEPARTMENT'S SLEEPERS. AUCKLAND. April 24. A meeting of the Harbour Board resolved that if the sleepers on the Port Caroline cannot be removed from the wharf over and above vvliat can he stored outside, tlie vessel must go into the stream. Another alterative which the Board could adopt is to have the sleepers carted from the wharf and stacked on the harbour board sections, charging the Railway Department the cost of removing them. The sheds must- he kepi

clear for general cargo. An officii;! said: —We have ample space to store a large quantity, hut v.e will empty as many ships as possible. Our duty is to give ships coming into port as quick a despatch as possible and while we have equipment and storage space the Board will not be lound wanting to carry out its functions. K VITA X GAT A MINE CLOSES. DI'N'EDIX. April 24. Tine are no further strike developments. Pickets are still on duty at the station entrance and Hillside. Only two trains left, one for Mosgiel and the other for Oamaru. There is still no railway communication with Port Chalmers, and no trains to Christchurch or Invercargill. Meetings of business men arc being held to arrange a motor transport service for goods. The Kaitangata coal mine is closed, causing uiiomplo.i mem t 0 over fill 1 ) men. At present most coal merchants have fair stocks. WELLINGTON TRAMWAY MEN’S POSITION. WELLINGTON, April 21. Ai a meeting ol the railwayinen at Petone last evening a member of tho audience asked what would happen if an attempt were made to run the suburban trains on the Hint hue coil-

sidering that the electric current for the signals came from the Wellington tramway power house. Mr Connelly, the A.5.1t.3. Presfdent, said that a protest would be lodged or if that was insufficient the tramway men would come out on strike. EMERGENCY COMMITTEE SET UP. OAMARU, April 24. The Mayor of Oamaru to-day convened a meeting which set up a citizen’s emergency committee to deal with urgent questions of the transport- of passengers. Two trains left Oamaru to-day. one north and one south. Ml! SEMPLE’S DENIAL. DUNEDIN. April 24. This morning Mr Semple, the local strike organiser, characterise I as f a downright lie, the statement in AA'ollinglon that an cllort was being made to involve all transport workers in the strike. Other prominent Labour members, corroborated, stating that no section of the workers had been approached by the railwayman or any other organisation to bring snout, a general strike. INTIMATION OF FIRST DIYISION GISBORNE. April 21. Members of the first division to-day intimated they would only < any out their own duties and consequently it wm intimated that no more meat could be brought in from the Yvainawa works. Only tho st.-uionmaster remains to take charge ol the haul trains. A train left for Moiuhora this morning, maintaining the timetable, and returns this evening.

A PUBLIC RESOLVE. WELLINGTON, April 25. A public meeting was held at Petone to discuss the railway strike situation. The Mayor .Mr. .1. MeEwen( presided, and lie referred to the great loss and inconvenience being occasioned by the strike, and also to the danger which existed, if it were prolonged,, of other Labour organisations becoming involved. Rev. Mr. Ramson moved: “That the Government and the A.S.R.S. he requested immediately to re-open negotiations in an endeavour to arrive at a settlement.” This motion was carried unanimously. A deputation, headed by the Mayor, was then set up to wait on both the Government and the A.S.R.S. The deputationw as received by both sides but the Press was not admitted to either. Subsequently it was reported_to the Press that the deputation had been sympathetically received by the A.S.R.S., who fold them that the executive are quite prepared to negotiate, if a satisfactory basis could he arrived at. PETROL SUPPLY. CHRISTCHURCH, April 25. Arrangements have been made in Christchurch to husband the supplies of petrol to clients in case lots, as tho:c is a tendency on the part of the car owners to lay in heavy suplh.es No objection will lie made by the garages to filling lip the tanks < ! Clients, hut the purchasers will not he allowed to take petrol away in hulk for hoarding purposes. There is no danger of a shortage of petrol. -The restrictions upon the supplv are merely a precautionary measure.