WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3475, 1 May 1920, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE RAILVVAY STRIKE.

TRAIN SERVICES CEASE.

(Special Coffispondent.)

WELLINGTON, April 28.

The railway strike——the cessation of ‘Work by the members of the Loco-' motive Engineers, Firemen; and Cleaners’ Association——is the one topic of discussion in the city today. -That there was serious trouble brewing was known for some ‘time Féfore the executive of the Association made its an-

_no_uncement yesterday morning, but the visit of the Prince of Wales was absorbing the attention of the Minister«and the General Ma.nager, and apparently they were relying upon the men doing not.'lng to interfere with the reception and entertainment. Of the Royal guest. They were not alone in assuming the men would not choose such an inopportune time for the stoppage of the train services, and they will not be alone in strongly deprecating the action of the strikers; but the oflicers of the Association on theirl side declare that the time was not of] their choosing, and that they would be glad even now to receive some assurance from the Prime Minister which would enable the men to return to work. '

PUBLIC INCONVENIENCE. The stoppage of the train services does not mean merely inconvenience to people who Want to move about. the ,country on business or on pleasure, It is 8, much more serious matter than that. would be. Wellington is a great. distributing centre for merchandise and mails, and many of the inland towns it serves will be placed in an extreinely awkward position by being cut oif from communication from their port, Palmerston North, for instafnce, is «said to have only two days’ supply of coal on hand, and if this is really! the ease the inconvenience and loss] awaiting the capital of the Manawlatu district, with its large population end’ numerous industrial activities may be ,_

easily imagined. Then, Wellington itself is largely dependent upon‘ the railwfifs fig; thg delivery of its suplilies milk anti !#l:l:‘3!f gpcl vegetables. ‘The City C‘buncil has Eu'ra.llgeCi‘ ..f°r lorry services that will keep the muni‘cipal supply going, but it will not be ‘surprising if this *1no)-ning's milk brought down from Otaki by road is '(:onsiderably shaken [when it. reaches the consumers to-nlorrow. ’ THE PRINCE ’S\‘TRAVELLING. The strikers’ chief affront to Wellington and to the inland towns within "the province is in. impcrilliug the itinerary of the Prince of Wales. Hawever just. their cause may be, they will receive little sympathy from the thous-

ants of men, women, and children who have been looking f6rwal'd for months past to taking part in the reception of the Royal guest at one place or another. The ofiicers of the Association recognise this fact and urge it as :1 proof of the urgency of the mcn’s demands. “We know,” one of their members said this morning, “that any interference wit.h«the Princc’s tour would be counted against us, and we are just as anxious as the rest of the -comrniunity to avoid any catastrophe‘ oi? that kind.” This declaration was not accompanied by any explanation as to how the catastrophe could be avoided, short of Government conceding the men’S full demands, and that is a course for which the Prime Minister‘ is not yet prepared. ' DURATION OF STRIKE.

Tho gort of rumours one might. expect in the circumstanc_e;'s are flying about thi_s afternoon. One’ is that practically all the railway workers are eager to join the strikers, and that their executives are having great diffi-

culty in holding them back. On the other hand it is reported that the Government is receiving ofi‘.’ers from at sufiieient number of qualified mm to keep the more iniport-ant services going and to carry out the Prince’s itinerary in its entirety. This report. is discrmlited by the officers of the Association, who predict that the employment of “black-legs” ivould set the whole railway service in a. ferment and bring about -3. general strike, But people in a particularly favourable position to know the temper of the men say it would not. be ditficult to arrange for the conveyance of the _Prince in safety and comfort it the parties got together at once to di.<ell.-.2 this single question.