ALONG THE NORTHERN LINE.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 95, 22 April 1924, Page 6

ALONG THE NORTHERN LINE.

SITUATION C_f_______B_F__J-Y MET. IMPROVISED BUS SERVICES. Although it tsame as a shock to _ city workers ' living along the northern suburban line to realise this morning that the strike was actually in being, little time was lost ia making tbe best of the situation. And the philosophic acceptance of the absence of the usual means of transport to the city was the easier from the fact that the difficulty was not insurmountable. There are a number of buses and charabancs availaide in the New Lynn and Avondale districts, while numerous carriers hay« also had their motor lorries so fitted that they are convertible into passenger vehicles at a moment's notice. This "shilling all the way to the races" fleet of vehicles was the providence that practically filled the bill this morning for the people clamouring for transport to work in town, and with the regular buses drove a busy service to the trarahead at Mount Albert. The roads were at the same time well peopled by pedestrians headed for the same terminus per hoot, some from necessity, from lack of room in the charabancs and buses, and others because they chose to foot it rather than pay the bus fare, which was, of course, something in excess of the usual rail rate. So well did the improvised motor service meet the general situation that many remarks were heard along the road this morning to the effect that it was "not a' hard thing to beat the railway suburban service." A large proportion of the ordinary 8 o'clock workers in the city arrived on time or but _. few minutes behind it. In the course of the day these emergency motor services will have become -.ganised to such an extent that it. is anticipated little trouble will be experienced in handling the homeward traffic flow. The regular tram traveller on the Mount Albert line was a good bit rustled to find his customary place in the car this morning, but this will also be in some part overcome by an increased service during the dislocation of the railway service. People from Henderson and Swanson way made shift to overcome the transport difficulty with what road vehicles were available. Along the road this morning were several varieties of wheeled craft pressed into the exigency service, a number of motor lorries rattling along loaded to the "gunwale" with lighthearted travellers seated picnic fashion on the floor, and taking the bumps as they came with a laugh. The fortunate owners of motor cars were in many instances hailed for a lift, and in most cases rose to the occasion in right proper spirit. One car pulled up opposite a waiting crowd at New Lynn while the driver inquired, "Are there a couple of old diggers among you. I have seats here for a couple of diggers." As there were no diggers forthcoming, two ladies filled the ' situation. A spirit of good cheer and humour pervaded the wholb business of getting to town, and as the bus loads approached the level crossings the drivers received many a sly warning to "look out for the engine." ARGUMENT TOR GOOD ROADS. "This is one of the best arguments we could have for the expenditure of more . public money on making good roads,", was the comment of one mer- ; chant when referring to the stoppage of the train service. "Had we done -bore in that direction in the past ii. would have been possible now t° have carried a lot of goods by motor lorries. Even as it is lorries will be greatly used within a good radius of the city until railway traffic is resumed. One effect of the stoppage of the railways will be to prevent supplies of metal being got to a number of works. At the present time bitumised road- are being formed at Taumarunui, and for this purpose metal chips are obtained from the quarry at Mt. Eden. Unless there is a good stpek of that material on hand at Taumarunui the work will have to wait until traffic is resumed.