NO TRAINS TO-DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1920, Page 5

NO TRAINS TO-DAY.

toco. MEN CEASE WORK. CONFINED TO NORTH ISLAND. Southern men in sympathy.

No trains will run in Taranaki to-day. An official announcement to this effect was made to the Daily ; News shortly before midnight last night, the foreman at the Morley Street engine-yards having reported to the stationmaster that the fires in all the engines had been drawn, and the locomotive men would not go to work this morning. Messages indicate that the trouble is general throughout the North Island, but that it is confined to the men of the locomotive branch. The men of the other branches of the traffic service are expected to be on duty. It is suggested that the South Island loco, men may come out in sympathy. It i» reported that the strike may involve a curtailment of the tour of the Prince of Wales.

"NORTH OUT OF HAND." DEFINITE MOVE TO STRIKE. STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. The executive of the Loco Men's Aslociation met. in Wellington to-night, and communicated with the Prime Minuter by telegram. Late in the evening thepoaition wag stated to be unchanged. "We think that we can hold the South Island, but the North Island is absolutely out of hand," said the secretary of the Association (Mr. McAriey). "We had to let them go; the men would wait no longer, and their resolutions passed at very large meetings were absolutely definite. "Some people seem to think that the North Island men are out because the Prince of Wales is here. That is not so at all. If we had been able to hold the North Island we would have done so. We have had numerous telegrams ft?om the branches in the South Island asking to be allowed to join their comrades in the North, but we have instructed all the Southern men to stay at work." The loco men in Wellington are not ■topping abruptly at midnight. They are finishing their jobs, and some of them- will be at work well in to toBOttar morning- They have been Instated to complete whatever duty has beeft assigned to them. When they knock oft they will not resume until directed by their executive." POSITION IN SOUTH ISLAND. NO ACTION TAKEN YET. OTBIKE IN SYMPATHY PROBABLE. Christdrarch, Last Night. K is stated here that although the Southern railway drivers are not very stTQßgly disposed to go out on their own initiative, the opinion is held very strongly is railwaymen's circles that if the Northern locomotive men go out the Southern men will strike sympathetically. NO BROKEN JOURNEYS. TRAINS TO COMPLETE TRIPS. Palmerston N., April 27. It is authoritatively announced here that members of the Engine-drivers, Firemen and Cleaners' Association will cease work this evening pending a settlement of the dispute. Although the strike will be declared at midnight train* will not stop at that time, irrespective of where they may be. All starting before midnight will run to their destinations, but passengers embarking after that time will do so at their own risk. The Main Trunk express leaving Auckland will run as usual to Wellington; similarly the expresses from Wellington to Auckland will complete their journey. The men declare that their wages aro inadequate, and that the conditions of labor, especially the long hours, cannot continue longer. What attitude the AJ3.R.S. will take up is not known. Meetings are being held throughout the Dominion at midday. The First Division is not likely to be affected. A prominent member informed a Standard reporter that then was a considerable amount of sympathy with the men from the other divisions, adding significantly: "So have the wharf lumpers and police." The decision of the meeting at mid-day must be endorsed at headquarters. Local members of the A.S.R.S. state emphatically that they favor coming out, NAPIER MEN'S SUPPORT. Napier, Last Night. At a large meeting of railwaymen here to-day in regard to the wages question, the following resolution was carried: "That this meeting strongly objects to the proposal of further commissions or wages boards of any kind whatever, aa we are only getting fooled by the Department, the Minister and the Government; we urge upon our executive the necessity of giving effect to the strike ballot immediately if a hearing under the Industrial Disputes' Investigation Act ia abortive; also, we demand full acceptance of the schedule M placed before the Government by our executive; also, tlfet we urge upon our executive to give the EF. and C-A. our whale-hearted engßort in the event of a

VIEWS OF THE MEN. LOW WAGES THE TROUBLE. LONG STANDING DISPUTE. By Telegraph.—Press Asm.—Copyrlsht. Wellington, April 27. A statement of the Executive Council of the Locomotive Engine-drivers, Firemen and Cleaners' Association says that the locomotive men have decided to cease work at midnight on the 27th because they are in receipt of wages which have the lowest purchasing power of any xneu ! employed in similar work in the Eng-lish-speaking world. Every means have been exhausted by the Executive Council to bring about an amicable settlement, and persistent representations have been made to the General Manager and Minister of Railways and Parliament during the last ten years. The'men were most militant twelve months ago, and the Executive Council held tle.r position until this year, when the deoision of the board went out to the men. The executive still held the men pending further representations to the Minister. When his last letter was received 'by the executive the Executive Council sent the whole matter to the branches to call urgent meetings on Sunday, 25th. The Executive Council intimated in correspondence that it had done all it could and exhausted all means in its power. It was also intimated to the men that the department refused the delegates leave to come to Wellington to consider the position on the 31st- If this had been agreed to at all costs the executive felt sure that the position would have been still safe.. However, the meetings held throughout New Zealand were large and the most extraordinary in the history of the railways. The unanimous instruction of the branches was that the Executive Council instruct all branches to cease work immediately. The council had placed themselves unreservedly in the hands of the branches and to abide by their decisions. There had been no predetermined action in striking atythis particular juncture, and such a thing had never occurred to the executive. The refusal of leave, coupled with the I letter sent in reply to the last representations of the Executive to the Minister, has goaded the men into their present action. The Executive Council asked the Minister to read the evidence of the Board and give a reply by th- 21st, if possible. It must be explained here that this Union put up no cause for an increase due to the cost of living, but acted solidly from the point of view that the, locomotive men in New Zealand were ndt being paid a. wage equal to the world's standard for locomotive men throughout the English-speaking world. The Minister's reply was by letter, and referred to setting up another Board tj go into the cost of living. The locomotive men's case was hereby ignored. The Minister left Wellington the same day as the Executive Council received his letter. The Minister knew that the position was serious, and had been so advised re* peatedly for the last twelve months ever since he was advised of a unanimous vote of the locomotive men taken in Mav. 1919. ' NEW PLYMOUTH VIEWS. DIVIDED OPINIONS. When the matter was mentioned by a Daily, News' representative to the New Plymouth railway officials, Mr. O'Shea, stationmaster, early in the evening, Baid he had no official communication on the question whatever, but later an official announcement was received. He believed the majority of the local men were not in favor of striking, though they were not by any means satisfied with their conditions. Other officers expressed the opinion that the strike decision was not at all unanimous, and questioned whether the older men in the service would be willing to sacrifice their superannuation by coming out on strike. One officer said the men were given a lesson last year of how a restricted service could be carried out, 4nd he believed there would be enough men prepared to carry on a service which would obviate a complete stoppage of the trains. The secretary of the local branch of the A.5.R.8., when asked by a News reporter if he had anything to say in regard to the strike, refused point blank to make any statement whatever. hot water bottles will not crack or burst. Vulcanised seams and patent stopper mean seasons of satisfrurtloa. Obtoinabls •veqrwh«r« ; —ls

APPEAL BY THE PREMIER.

DOMINION'S NAME AT STAKE. MEN URGED TO WAIT. Botorua, Last Night. Humors of a possible stoppage of the railways in the midst of the celebrations attendant on the Prince's visit are exciting the keenest interest, as the town is full of people deeply concerned as to the manner of gettring away in tho event of a hold-up of the services coming to pass. Mr. Massey, Minister for Railways, was la communication with Mr. McArlev, general secretary of the Engine-drivers Association, during the day. The first telegram from Mr. McArley to the Minister read as follows:—"Locomotive men have unanimously decided to cease work at midnight, Tuesday, 27th inst." To this Mr. Massey replied; "Your telegram received, contents of which I was very sorry to read. I trust that even now wiser counsels may pre vail, and that, at all events while our Royal visitor is the guest of New Zealand, peace may prevail between the railwaymen and the State. Anything in the way of a strike just now would be a disgrace to the whole of the Dominion, and more especially to thos'e who become responsible for it. The fair fame of Ne.*v Zealand is at stake, and on that account, as well as for -other reasons, I appeal to your Society to refrain from the contemplated action. The railwaymen of this country have had, up to the present, a well-earned reputation for loyalty, and it would be a matter for extreme regret if that reputation were tarnished by the action of any section oi the railway employees."

A later telegram from Mr. McArley to Mr. Massey was brief, as follows: "Impossible to hold strike back without your assistance." The Minister then addressed the following telegram to M?. McArley: "Your further telegram received. My assistance has so far not been asked for. Your men even declined to state your grievances to me on the occasion of my recent meeting with representatives of your Society, referring me, when I asked what your troubles were, to the evidence given before Judge Stringer's Board of Inquiry. The responsibility for what may happen is your.-, though if I can prevent further trouble I shall be very glad to do anything possible."

There matters stand for the present. So far as the Royal visit is concerned, thy authorities are not prepared to say what will be done.

Late to-night the Minister of Railways received the following further telegram from Mr. Lewin, president, and Mr. W. M?Arlev, secretary of the Locomotive Men's Association:—"Telegram received, and in reply I respectfully desire to remind you that you agreed to read tin evidence given by the Association before the Board, and 1 which was a very full statement of our trouble. They expected you to read the evidence and g>j into all the points therein. However, we appreciate your ofier and again repeat that we can do nothing further without your assistance."

The Minister replied to this as follows:—"Replying to your latest telegram, may I remind you that it was only when you refused to state your case to the General Manager and myself, I said I would read the evidence which wa« placed before Judge Stringer. I intend to publish the whole of your statement before the Board, and let the public judge for themselves as to whether you were justified in taking up your present position." The Minister has already received a large' number of offers of assistance from experienced engineers and others to keep the railways of the North Island running well up to ordinary time-tables, and it is not considered likely that the public will suffer very seriously, even if the men decide to come out. So far as the Royal visit is concerned, no trouble is anticipated, but if the worst should happen the effect would be to cut all the balance of the North [eland inland programme out. The Prince would be returned to Auckland, whence he would be taken to Wellington in the Renown, arriving there next Monday on schedule time.

This would mean cutting out visits along the Main Trunk line, Taranaki, and Napier. That, however, is only a possibility, not a probability. The authorities are still confident the original programme can be carried through with little or no interruption. One thing agitating the people in Rotorua is the problem of feeding 10,000 visitors, including COOO Maoris, but it i 6 pointed out that fqodstuffs can be secured by motor from the East Coast in ample supply to meet all requirements.

A CRAVE INCIDENT. GOVERNOR'S TRAIN TAMPERED WITH. Rotorua, Last Night. One incident occurred this morning at Auckland which only became known later. When the Governor's train was due to leave at nine o'clock, it was discovered that the Are bars had been tampered with in some way unexplained, necessitating the substitution of another engine and a consequent delay to the first train. In the light of later developments, the incident bears a rather unpleasant appearance. DISLOCATION AT AUCKLAND. Auckland, Last Night. The strike of railway engine drivers, firemen, and cleaners in Auckland commenced ht midnight. An indication of what was to happen was provided earlier in the evening by the refusal of the men who had completed runs to undertake any further work. At midnight tlie engines engaged in shunting at the station yard will return to the sheds, and the cleaners on night shift will cease work.

A.S.R.S. VIEW.

WELLINGTON MEN'S PROTEST. "DEMANDS ONLY SIDE-TRACKED." Wellington, Last Night. The following motion was passed by the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Railway Officers' Institute last night:—"We are astonished to learn that Mr. Massey has failed to grasp the fact that Mr. Justice Stringer's findings with' reference to the claims placed before the Wages Board on behalf of railway officers are totally inadequate to meet ths reasonable demands made, and we consider that any new proposals based on those findings can only tend to prolong and intensify the trouble. "We deplore the fact that the Government failed to deal with the claims in a practical and sympathetic manner, We have no confidence in, and absolutely refuse to recognise, the Commission now proposed by Mr. Massey, and which we firmly believe is merely a further attempt to side-track the whole business. "This meeting considers the Minister's reply tantamount to a termination of amicable negotiations, and requests the Executive to obtain a legal opinion as to the application of the Labor Disputes Investigation Act, with a view to havini* the present dispute heard before the tribunal appointed under that Act."

Officially, the members of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, comprising the traffic branch, that is, guards, porters, shunters, plate-layers, workshop staffs, signalmen, and, in fact, everyone outside the first division officers and locomotive men, will not be on strike to-night, but the bulk of them are undoubtedly sympathetic with the locomotive men, and many of them, it is said, will be quite prepared to go out. The Society has filed its dispute under the Labor Disputes Investigation Act, which provides for the matter being dealt with by a specially appointed tribunal, composed of representatives of the parties involved, and a chairman mutually agreed upon. The Act further provides that, should the suggested award arrived at by this means be not satisfactory to the men, they may give seven days' notice of their decision to strike. That course was also open to the En-gine-drivers, Firemen and Cleaners' Association, but they have chosen the more direct method of immediate action. The position of the A.S.R.S. was explained briefly by the General Secretary, Mr. M. J. Mack, who said that at the outbreak of hostilities the Society was negotiating with the Government for improved conditions and wages. "We immediately," said Mr. Mack, "waited on the Minister for Railways and told him that so long as the cost of living was reasonably controlled we would not press our claims. As everyone knows, the cott of living has not been controlled, and has continued to rise, with the result that we have from time to time been compelled to ask for increased wages. We have received in all 4s per day by way of bonuses at different times. Three shillings of this has been converted into wages, which, in effect, has reduced its purchasing power, for the men have now to pay superannuation charges on it. The cost of living has increased, as stated by the Prime Minister, 62 per cent., and our men have asked for an increase in wages of 2a (id per day. Of this, one shilling has been granted by Mr. Justice Stranger's report.

"We also desire improved working conditions, details of which have been placed before the Department, the Minister, and the Manager, and printed repeatedly. The effect of low wages and bad working conditions is that men have been leaving, and are leaving, to such an extent that, quite apart from the cessation of work on the part of the men, the department is finding it difficult to carry on. Here is an illustration of what is happening: Coal is waiting at Greymouth for shipping held up in Wellington for want of trucks. Over 150 full trucks are standing, in the Wellington railway yards waiting to be unloaded, and the Department.cannot secure labor at the wages offered. Vehicles which should not foe used are being used; men Are working excessively long hours, and unless these things are remedied tilers jaust be, sooner or later, a general smash. We have filed a dispute under the Labor Disputes Investigation Act. I This means a further delay, of which I have no doubt the Government will take full advantage. In the meantime, I am afraid the men will not wait for a settlement in this way." Sir Francis Bell further stated that the thoughts of the public were at once turned to the Royal train whiclj is to take the Prince over the North Island. If arrangements are not made to run the Royal train, thousands of people will be denied the long-anticipated privilege of welcoming the Prince of Wales, and the extensive arrangements for his reception will be upset. The officials of the E.F.C.A. have not yet been approached regarding their willingness to provide a crew for the Royal train. We have not considered the matter yet," stated the General Secretary, and it is for the Government to make the first move. Any representations from the Government will be considered immediately."

It is understood that offers to provide a crew to man the Royal train have already been made to the Government. MAILS BY MOTOR. THRICE WEEKLY SERVICE TO TARAXAKI. Wellington, Last Night. The Secretary of the General Post Office advised this afternoon that in view of the possibility of a railway strike taking place at midnight, the following arrangements would hold for j places throughout the Dominion where j mails are served by the railway: Motor services will be provided and mails will be sent from Wellington to Wanganui thrice weekly; Wanganui to New Plymouth thrice weekly (on the days following the arrival of mails in Wanganui from Wellington); Wellington to Woodville thrice weekly; and Palmerston North to Napier thrice weekly. Similar arrangements will be made in other parts of the North Island, and throughout the South Island. As bulky mail matter, such as newspapers, packets, and parcels, cannot be conveyed by motor, in no circumstances will matter other than letters be transmitted. The mail services other than those run by train will not be interfered with, except that letters only will be transmitted.

EFFECT ON ROYAL TOUR.

may be curtailed. TRIPLE alliance steps IX. ®y Telegraph.— Own Correspondent. 1 Ti, » , Wellington, Last Night, The effect of tlie railway strike upon < the Prince of Wales cannot be predicted confidently. The tour, corwinly, will have to be curtailed if trains > availal)le - Officers of the loco mens association stated in Wellington ay that they would lie prepared to consider suggestions from the Governrneiu for the running of the Royal train. . ,'f Fran cis Bell, the senior Minister " , c 'ty, had an interview with Mr Alack secretary of the A-S.R.S., but no aehmte proposal was made. The department could secure a crew to run tne Royal train, but that would not meet all the difficulty. The train cannot be run without adequate staffs along tne route, and other trains are required to convey the public, especially the children, to meet the Prince at the various points. If the Prince cannot travel by tram he will return from Rotorua to Auckland by motor car, then travel to Wellington aboard the Renown. This would necessitate changes in the arPlymTth tS affecting Na P ier and New The loco men's executive has ordered the strike in the North Island only, and has directed the South Island branches to remain at work for the present, but the executive admits that this instruction may not be obeyed by the South •island men, who have been 'showing strong feeling. The Railway Department intends to attempt running some trains to-morrow. Ihe acting General Manager stated this afternoon that he was getting into touch with drivers who were not members of the association, and he hoped, at any rate, to be able to maintain some suburban services, but he could not tell how jnany trains would be possible until he learned the attitude of the railwaymen other than thrt loco men. Mr. Mack, 'secretary of the A.S.R.S., asked what his organisation was going to do, Replied that the traffic men would do nothing that would defeat the loco men in their struggle for improved wages and conditions' That was all he wished to say at present. A meeting of the Advisory Board of the Alliance of Labor is being arranged. The Alliance includes the railwaymen, waterside workers, miners, and drivers. WELFARE LEAGUE'S ACTION. APPEALS TO BOTH SIDES. Wellington, Last Night. When the news of the intention of the engine drivers to strike became khown, the New Zealand Welfare League, which had already interested itself in the dispute, sent the following telegram to Sir. McArley, secretary of the Union:— "The Welfare League deplores the possibility of a lightning strike by your members, apart from the grave'inconvenience to the public and the dislocation of all the Dominion businesses. Such a course would be condemned by the whole public, and would militate against an equitable adjustment of your members' claims. The time of thee Prince's visit renders the strike especially inopportune. He urge you to consider your grave responsibilities. The League is in favor of a fair and ju;t consideration of your demands, but if you persist in striking 'he League must support the Government and the public. We feel satisfied that the whole community will take that view. If action was postponed during the Prince's visit you would secure the approval of the whole COUII- - and their help in getting a full consideration and fair settlement of your claims.

"Although you may have reason to think that the delay in dealing with the question lias been ewessive, we are satisfic-d that the above is the wiser course in your own interests. The League will vigorously press on the Government immediate consideration of your demands."

At the same time the League sent a copy of the above message to the Prime Minister, with the following addition addressed to Mr. Massey himself: "We earnestly urge that no delay should take place in the adoption of some course to determine the grievances. We cannot see any objection _ setting up a Labor Disputes Committee under the Act of 1913, and believe that an assurance from you that this will be done will avert, or at least, postpone an immediate strike, and give time for propel' adjustment."