The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1920. SETTLED.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 528, 4 May 1920, Page 2

The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1920. SETTLED.

The stoppage of trains due to the strike gave the Pukekohe railway station an air of desolation, and the absence of the regular whistling and rumbling denoted inactivity of a peculiarly helpless nature. When the Royal train rushed through--Pukekohe at about 4.45 p.m. on Sunday everyone brightened up, and a feeling of great relief was felt. A similar mental state prevailed in other parts of the North Island when the news of the cessation of the strike became known. Whatever may be said of the policy which allowed discontent to simmer and ultimately boil over in the form of a strike, most people will give the Minister for Railways credit for the prompt manner in which the dispute was settled, pending a thorough and impartial enquiry. It is also gratifying to note that the grievances of the postal officials are being investigated, and that in consequence a strike in this important branch of public service will in all probability be averted. Much curiosity existed in regard to the particular point of variance between Mr. Massey and the loco, men, which point Mi<. Massey refused to make public. Had he done so. his hands would have been greatly strengthened, for there is no doubt that the public would have been up in arms against the impracticable demand that increased pay should be made retrospective for a period of thirteen months. Mr. Massey's threat that, failing the abandonment of this absurd claim, he would call tin the public of New Zealand to furnish men to run the locomotives, and would dismiss the present driven* and cleaners and disallow superannuation, was an ultimatum that would have been stoutly supported. In a leading article in our last issue we referred to the difficulty ofLrunning a business enterprise sucs§r>fully when such were liable to Tksvy inflictions in the form of retrospective pay. The terms of settlement disclosed since show that our anticipations as to the cause of the deadlock were correct. Surely the ioco men must be headed by young, very >tmn» and inexperienced, men in regard to matters cf public policy and economics, and the management of what, after all, must be considered as a business enter-, prise. The loco, branch badly needed a lesson in manners and ethics, though their claims in the main maj be just ones. However, the trouble is tided over for the time being, and the community will expect wise counsels to prevail on both sides thereby preventing a recurrence of the recent dislocation of any important public service.