POSITION IN AUCKLAND

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 102, 29 April 1920, Page 6

POSITION IN AUCKLAND

COMPLETE PARALYSIS. NO TRAINS TO-DAY. ALL SECOND DIVISION MEN OUT. TO-MORROW'S PLANS. A more than Sabbath stillness has lettled on the Auckland railway station, yards, and goods sheds to-day, for not a man is to be met with in railway uniform. No wisp of smoke rises from tho chimney 6tacks of the strangely silent engine Bbeds, the signal-boxes are deserted, and the station platforms are •peopled only by curious passers-by and a few idly lounging railwaymen in their off-duty garments. Yesterday, while the members of the A.S.R.S.—comprising the remaining branches of the Second "Division, were still on duty, it wag possible for the higher locomotive officers, who do not belong to the E.F.C.A., to man and run a few trains to serve the city workers who live in the moro distant suburbs. But with the coming out last night of the whole of the Second Division men, it was not possible at such short notice to "carry on" this mornin-", so .no attempt was made to keep up steam on any of the engines. The only train to arrive at Auckland this morning was tho one bringing back from Rotorua the detachment of Renown sailors who went lip on Tuesday to see tha Maori demonstrations in welcome to the Prince of Wales. This train arrived shortly after 6.30, and after unloading it backed out to the yards, leaving the station rails occupied solely by two or. three brake rvtuia and coaches.'

PROSPECTS FOR TO-MORROW. The traffic department is hopeful, however, of arranging to run at least two trains to-morrow, though no effort will be made to start any to-night, as none came in this morning with workers. It is hoped by the authorities that it. will be possible to organise their available manning resources s6 that trains can be run out to Papakura and Henderson tomorrow morning and evening. If this can be done it will enable those city workers who are too far away to walk to a tram terminus to travel to and from their employment. Meanwhile, hundreds of people were to-daj' willynilly forced to make holida}', while many hundreds of others had most unusual early morning constitutionals to the nearest tram stop. The fortunate possessors of motor-cars were able to view the situation with equaninity, while the outer suburban roads were alive also with all manner of motor .and horse vehicles, whose owners found rich opportunity to make harvest out of the exigencies of those who were determined or compelled to reacli the city even at ruinous tariff rates of travel." DEDICATE AXD SERIOUS. It is reeognieed on every linnd that the position is one of extreme gravity to the whole community, as the industrial ramifications of the position are such that any little move on either side of apparent small signincanne may act as tinder to carry the strike flnm'p. The association of the A.S..S. with the general Transport Federation causes a feeling of uneasiness in the public mind, while the evident resolve of outside engineers to maintain an attitude of benevolent neutrality torvarila the action of the railwaymen is another deadlock factor against any effort that might be made to break the strike. The railway authorities in Auckland are therefore observing a carefully tactful front, and beyond the effort to run one or two

essential trains for the benefit of the workers in the outside suburbs are doing nothing likely to aggravate any hostility pending efforts for an amicable settlement. The strikers on their part profess an equally punctilious regard for clean and fair play. The officials this morning deprecated certain statements alleging trivial instances of sabotage, and gave assurances that the men will strictly observe the rules of fair play. They also stated that should there occur any individual instances of malicious action the executive will deal with them promptly and severely. A special meeting of the E.F.C.A. was held at the Trades Hall yesterday afternoon, at whicU all the members were accounted for. Mr. Barter, secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, attended the meeting, and gave it an assurance that in tbe event of any of tlie Society's members being used to the detriment ofthe E.F.C.A. they would cease wurK immediately. DELIYEBIMG THE MAILS. The Postal Department has been busily engaged in organising the mail .services under the new and difficult circumstances that have arisen from the railway strike, and havo been successful in making arrangements for services to most of the districts that are ordinarily served by the railway. Motor cars and river steamers will convey first class mail natter, that id to say, letters and postcards, to the offices throughout the Waikato, and as far south in the King Country as Te Kuiti. A daily mail service will connect Auckland and Hamilton, which town will be the distributing centre to Te Kuiti along the Main Trunk line, to Cambridge on the Cambridge line, to Matamata on the Kotorua line, and to Te Aroha on the Thames line. Rotorua and other inland places of thnt part of the district will be served from Tauranga, the mails being carried through by m.tor as steamers arrive. A daily mail will also be run to Helensvillo, taking first-class mail matter for Dargavillo and the Northern YVairoa, whilo. on tho eastern coast, motor runs will be made from Whangarei and other northern ports. The Department is dispatching mails for places south of the Province as opportunity serves by steamer, and it is hoped, in the event of the strike being prolonged over a few days to make arrangements for a daily service between Onehunga and New Plymouth, with connection, as stated yesterday, by motor car with Wellington. It has been suggested that tho railway could be used for the carriage of mails by equipping motor lorries with flange wheels to fit the gauge of the railway. Tlie railway authorities, while admitting that such a course would be quite practicable if the trucks could be readily altered, state that the work of doing so would involve considerable time nnd a great deal of readjustment. As their own workmen are all out on strike, and it might occasion trouble if at the present juncture outside shops were asked to undertake the work of fixing up the lorries for this purpose, the possibility of applying the experiment is somewhat remote.