THE ROYAL TRAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1920, Page 5

THE ROYAL TRAIN.

AN OFFER TO RUN IT. NO RISK TO BE TAKEN. Wellington, Last Night. All parties to the railway dispute are anxious to faciltate the completion of the tour of the Prince of Wales, and this desire has been a factor in the negotiations. The members of the A.S.R.S. are prepared to do any work required in connection with the Prince's train, but the railway authorites are dubious about the advisability of attempting to run the Royal train as long as any part of the railway service is disorganised by the strike. No risks can be taken with the Prince while iie is travelling on the New Zealand railways. THE FIRST DIVISION. PROTEST AT CONTROL. _ Wellington, Last Night. : The following resolution was passed ™ etinS ' oea ' branch of the N./-. R O.I.: "That this meeting of members of the Wellington branch of the Hail way Officers' Institute affirms that it has absolutely no confidence jn the present management's staff administration, and we call upon the Government to take steps whereby a more up-to-date staff shall be ensured, which, while protecting the interests of the Dominion, sliill also advance and conserve the individual right of the railway employees; ■urtlier, we are strongly of opinion that had this been done in the past the present strike would not have eventuated." Auckland, Last Night. The Auckland Railway Officers' Institute held a strike ballot to-day. Although officials declined to make a statement as to the result of the ballot it is undemtood there was a two to one majority in favor of a strike. The Auckland branch of the Amalgamate' Society of Railway Servants has decided not to resume work until the strike of engine-drivers, firemen and cleaners is settled. This decision was reached at a meeting at the Trades Hall, at which about IOHd railway men were present. During the meeting a telegram from the president and the secretary in Wellington was read stating that the strike of the Society had been settled, and that members were to report for work immediately. POSITION IN NEW PLYMOUTH. TRAFFIC MEN REPORT FOR DUTY. Strike matters were taken quietly in New Plymouth yesterday, but there was a distinctly more hopeful feeling in the fninds of everybody, the over-night messages having raised expectations of an early settlement of the difficulty. Tise local railway men held a meeting yesterday morning, and when seen afterwards the secretary of the A.S.R.S. said there was nothing to report beyond the fact that the position was very hopeful. Excitement was created about a quarter past one in the afternoon by the sounding of the. Sash and Door Co's siren, and later by the repetition of this, as well as the sounding of the whistle at Brown and Co.'s yards. This was interpreted by most people as a r.ignal that the strike had been settled. As a matter of fact it was a call to the railway men to assemble, to be made aware of certain information that had come to hand. When seen again by a News reporter, the secretary of the A.S.RS. stated they had received word from their executive that, so far as they were concerned, the strike was ''called off," and the men were to report for duty. All the local members of that branch of the service reported for duty in the afternoon, but as there were no trains running there was nothing for them to do.