The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, APRIL 28th, 1924. THE RAILWAY HOLD-UP.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, APRIL 28th, 1924. THE RAILWAY HOLD-UP.

Thu strike lias now rim its course for a week, and the inconvenience to the public is growing day by day. On the Coast the weather conditions have been in sympathy with the strikers, as motor traffic has been difficult, and on the long routes, including the Christchurch run, transport is held up by rivers and slips. This makes the position more acute here. Mails were delayed over last week considerably, and this added to the general inconvenience. Other labor is not seriously affected so far, hut the want of transport is sure to affect the timber trade. There was a fair clean-up before the holidays, but there is only limited storage for timber for export, and without sales and delivery, payments will be restricted. There is thus surely to he difficulty in profitably employing sawmill hands soon. The same remark applies to the coal miners, where the amount of work is governed hv the capacity of the storage hills. If the timber and coal trade both come to a stand still, the real pinch of the strike will lie felt in the several centres on the Coast dependent on the two industries for business opportunities. Apart from this developing aspect, thore is the question of supplies for the people at large. All importing has ceased compulsorily practically, hut the people must go on living, and it will not lie surprising if many commodities run short. This will be a pinch for the family man and hotels and restaurants. Probably motor transport “over the hill” will ho resorted to, hut this will mean added cost, so that essential articles will he both scarce and dear. In some parts good motor services are being organised but natural conditions affect the Coast. The mountain barrier of the Alps has to he considered, particularly at this season of the year, when with the wet season, slips and floods have to he encountered. The mountains are now taking on their wintry mantle, and the snow will add to the transport difficulties. In view of this, supplies may have to he drawn from Nelson by road, or l>v special steamer direct from 'Wellington to Hokitika. Such a service was possible on a former occasion, and it would not he surprising if the strike again opened the port of Hokitika to shipping, seeing that there is a difficulty in unloading steamers at Greymouth. All these aspects which are adding to the variety and interest of the picture should serve to remind the people that if the strike lasts for any period, the position is going to more or less serious to the whole community. Meantime the Government does not show much sign of movement on the Coast in the direction of running skeleton services, or otherwise meeting what promises to be a tense situation. Probably during this week, there will be developments in that direction. The occasion seems to he drawing nearer.