THE DESERTED IRON ROADS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 103, 30 April 1920, Page 5

THE DESERTED IRON ROADS.

SOON BE HUMMING AGAIN. POSSIBLE .SUBURBAN TRAINS TO-NIGHT. Though the news that came through from Wellington about midday that the strike was practically settled was not altogether unexpected after the oneouraging tone of the messages respecting last night's conference between the Prime Minister and the leaders of the railwaymen, the detinite annuoncementjfjhat the trouble had passed and that the way was clear for the resumption of the country's chief transport *yetem, relieved nil minds, official and otherwise. The knowledge that the weary home wary tramp from work would in all probability he substituted this very day for the usual ride behind the panting locomotive, came as a joy and a blessing to many who have been having prolonged and unwonted walking cxereiae in the last few days. A great amount of goods and parcels of merchandise has also been piling up in warehouses and packing stores, and when the goods sheds reopen for the receipt of freight there will be an extraordinarily busy time (or tho freight loading stalls till the congestion is overcome ami business gets back to normal.*

The only wheels that revolved on the Auckland railway lines this morning; were those which brought in the vice-! regal and various sections of the Royal train from Kotorua. Aβ each of the four trains that arrived unloaded, they were run out to the yards a_nd put away ill proper trim, and by nine o'clock, the station and yards relapsed into comparative solitude. No suburban trains were run, so that those unfortunates in the distant suburbs who had hopes of getting into the city by rail had perforce to foot it once more or etay at home. Happily since, the strike started, the j weather has been beautifully compas-1 sionate. and the many that have been i obliged to walk have at least, been favoured with dry roads and smiling! skiee. Although no trains could be put! on this morning, the railway traffic I authorities were going to make an en- j deavour to run one or two trains to the i suburbs this evening with the help of : volunteers. Nothing delinitc had been arranged this morning, however, and

■.lien the news arrived that a settlement. had been reached in Wellington, plans Ua;l to be rearranged. When men are oft duty nn a. railway system, it is not ao fimple a thing to get business going as usual a» in a private workshop, and nothing definite <-.ould bo accomplished, moreover, until both the Departmental officers and the local strike leaders had received official confirmation of a settle ment. Every hope was expressed by the Auckland traffic office, however, that enough men could be signed on in time to get at least one or two trains away to the 6Uburbs this evening, though it has to be remembered that not only the train crews, but a certain proportion of the permanent road staffs in the shape of signallers, station hands, and other essential men, inuet be on duty for the running of even a skeleton si-r-Meanwhile the ranks of the idle railwaymeii about to\rn, have been swelled by the arrival of numbers of their country comrades, who are eager to participate in the various meetings being hold by the strike committee, and to be on hand to hear the latest developraente in the situation. WHANGAREI MEN OUT. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.I WHANGAREI, Thursday. At a. meeting of the Whangarei branch of the A.S.B.S. this afternoon it was decided to cease all work on the Wbangarei railway section at midnight.