RAILWAY HOLD=UP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1943, Page 4

RAILWAY HOLD=UP

IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA' OVER SUSPENSION OF PORTER ACCUSED OF INSULTING REMARK. IN PRESENCE OF LORD GOWRIE. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) ADELAIDE, This Day. A strike of railway workers has stopped all rail passenger and most freight traffic in South Australia. The strike began when a porter was suspended for allegedly making an insulting remark in the presence of the Governor-General, Lord Gowrie, on his arrival here on Monday. While newspaper photographers were taking pictures of Lord Gowrie on the station, a porter allegedly said: “It’s a pity they don’t turn a machine-gun on him.” The remark was reported by a police constable, and on Thursday the Railway Commissioner suspended the porter on a charge of misconduct. The porter is understood to have denied making the alleged remark and to have claimed that he said: “It’s a wonder they haven’t got a machine-gun on it,” meaning on the train or on a motor-cycle of the escort. A meeting of 400 members of the Australian Railways Union yesterday decided, at a stopwork meeting, that they would not resume work until the porter had been reinstated. Subsequently the case was referred to the Manpower directorate, whose report Will be considered at a special meeting of the men on Monday. Meanwhile the effect of the rail stoppage on industry has been serious. Many members of munitions factory staffs have been unable to reach their work, while big consignments of freight have been held up.