STRIKE BEGAN AT MIDNIGHT.

Shannon News, 23 April 1924, Page 4

STRIKE BEGAN AT MIDNIGHT.

Ultimatum From Railwaymeri GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS CHALLENGE^ WELLINGTON, Last Night. To-day the Government proposals were discussed by the executive council of the A.S.R.S., and at noon the president (Mir M. Connelly) bad a brief Interview with the Minister of Railways (the Hon. J. G. Coates), and obmmunicated the result iof that interview to his executive. Later, following up a similar" communication I‘ro-m Mr Connelly by telephone, Mr M. J. Mack (general secretary of the A.S.R.S.), wrote to the Minister.“I am instructed by ray executive to advise you that failing some increase in wages being offered by the Government, it will instruct the whole of the Railwayman in the Second Division to cease work at midnight to-night, April 21st.”

Cabinet met at 3 o’clock this afternoon to consider this communication, and after a lengthy conference with his colleagues, the Minister of Railways replied tie Mr Mack as under:— “I have to state that Cabinet nos considered' ’your communication,

and I am directed to inform you that, as the Society has failed to take advantage of all the opportun- 1 ities offered it by the Government, J of establishing its claims before a, •tribunal that would have the confi-j denee.of the public, and has preferJ red to take, the matter into its own 'hands by declaring a strike, the action of the A.S.R.S. leaves the Government no opTion but to decline ( to comply with the demands made by the executive of the A.S.R.S.” j

The A.S.R.S. thereupon sent out th? strike telegrams to all branches as follow: —

“The Executive instructs all members to cease work at midnight on Monday, April 21. Trains to be allowed to run to their destination omy.—‘Mack.”

Mr M. Connelly,. president of the A.S.R.S. stated, in the course of an interview, thait he had .no /urther comment to make. Every possible avenue had been tried to obtain a settlement without resorting to a strike, and, much as they regretted it, it was now found that it was impossible to do this without resorting to the mandate given by members, and unless something unforeseen occurred, this would operate as from 12 o’clock that night.

The Minister was given the personal assurance'of Mr Connelly that the men, before ceasing work, would run;to their bonne stations all trains Leaving midnight. News of .the strike of Railwayihen has caused, great excitement, throughout the Dominion. k The Government Railway Department has been inundated with wires as to Ihe position. THE RAILWAY STRIKE. (To the Editor). Sir,—So the Massey Government' has proved itself incompetent- to settle the railway strike without inflicting on the country loss and inconvenience, to say nothing of the hardship to the men whose just claims thev have rejected. The lato Mr Seddon would have settled tihis trouble in about five minutes ; he knew how to handle pen and to lead them without' driving them. This country badly needs another Dick Seddon just now, and if Mr Massey is a sport he will cal' Parliament together at once, and give the country a chance to endorse

his policy or reject him, as a I’ailure, \ and elect a democratic government with a leader of Dick Sejidon’s and so put an end to this turmoil and 'confusion. But Mr Massey is not a sport—he is clinging to the reins of office for his own ends and to servo tto selfishness of his wealthy conservative friends, and the longer no holds on the more incompetent he becomes. How long .will, the country stand it?—l am etc.. P. L. HOLLINGS. city; workers .arrive on. time. EFFICIENT MOTOR SERVICES IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, April 22. f The railway strike has rendered idle ’ the railway yards with the exception of the apprentices, who continue work in the railway workshops improvised motor lorry services ian to tile suburban areas and along the southern line. Motor connected with the jtramway services to Onehunga on the northern line and motors ran between the train terminus and Mt. Albert so that the workers arrived in town practically at the usual time. MOljlE MOTORS THAN PASSENGERS. WELLINGTON’S SUBURBAN TRAFFIC WELLINGTON, April 22. The last train to arrive to-day was the express from Auckland. There were no suburban trains, but 'motor transport from the Hutt Valley commenced the first tiling this morning,’ so many vehicles offering that therb were not sufficient passengers lor hill. Good use was made of the newly-surfaced Hutt road. FIRjST STRIKE PICKETS AT PETONE WELLINGTON, April 22. Volunteers to form strike pickets were called for at a meeting of the Petpne workshops employees this morning and the. first > ten for this purpose were appointed. *