IN WELLINGTON.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18058, 28 April 1924, Page 9

IN WELLINGTON.

SOME MEN REPORTING

FOR DUTY,

SUBURBAN TRAINS RUNNING

(PBI-SS ASSOCUTT6K TZLEGBAM.)

WELLINGTON, April 27. From the [public's point of Vieweach succeeding day sees an improvement in the strike situation, in that a fuller and more complete railway service is being put into operation. On Saturday the Department was able to take ordinary suburban passengers into Wellington and to return them to their homes after midday. In addition, four race trains conveying officers and men of the visiting Fleet were run to Trentham, each train consisting of 18 cars, and carrying a total of between 3000 and 4000 people. Today Sunday trains were run between WeKington and Upper Hutt, leaving Wellington morning and afternoon. Tomorrow the mail train will leave Wellington for Napier at 9.10 a.m., taking passengers and mails. The Department announces that suburban trains will also run to-morrow, the districts served being Lower Hutt, Johnsonville, and intermediate stations to PUmmerton. Stationmasters and others are acting voluntarily as guards, ■ while other' members of the First Division are acting voluntarily in other useful capacities.

From enquiries made at various sources yesterday, ;t was learned that considerable discontent is manifesting itself among sections of the striking railwaymen, a number of whom have reported for duty at different centres. It is quite possible that within a few days a considerable number of others will have offered to resume work. Should {his prove to be the t.VJ'.\ it will enable the Bailway Department To organise during the j.tesent week a more extensive service than was at first anticipated. It is officially stated to-day that six suburban trains each way were run on the Hutt • line on Saturday, while the Napier express,"carrying about 150 passenger?, ran light vp to time. Every--thing went off smoothly.

The services were Worked by a volunteer staff. More voluntary assistance ;is' coming in every day, and a number of guards reportecbthemseives for duty at Wellington yesterday. Notwithstanding the difficulties that are being encountered owing to the strike, the Department is making every effort to meet public convenience, and hopes to be in a position to extend the services within the next few days.

(SPECIAL 10 "THB PEBS9.") WELLINGTON, April 27. The Wellington train service is developing much more rapidly than was expected. To-day 'there was quite a good suburban service as far as Upper Hutt, and in addition the Department was able to run four racecourse trains to Tre.ntham, where the special race meeting ?n honour of our naval visitors, was held. Fifty-five officers and 500 men from the ships travelled by these trains to and from Trentham. As the general public did not know that so many trains would be run, most people, went out by motor-car. The Governor-General, Mr Massey, and several of his Ministers attended the meeting. ;

MOTOR TRANSPORT GROWING IN FAVOUR. DUNEDIN'S PETROL SUPPLIES. (SPECIAL TO "THIS "PRESS.") DUNEDIN, April ,27. The railway strike has set people thinking quite seriously about the possibility that may not be very far ahead of motors supplanting the railways for a -great deal of our transport work. Improved ears, and better roads are believed to be agencies in this change. Recently a man who was transferred from v Ohristchurch to Dunedin moved all his household goods by a big motor that loaded at his door in Ohristchurch and unloaded at his door in Dunedin—quite a simple process, without the aid of stationmasters, guards, or any other helpers.

Wholesale houses have not so far been seriously affected by.the strike. Fairly good stocks of most lines wore in, bond before Easter, and country stores have been supplied by motorwaggons in most cases. One difficulty has been that country travellers have been unable to go about their business through lack of railway facilities. Thinking that the supply of petrol might be affected by the use of large numbers of motor vehicles running long distances at present, a reporter mado enquiry of one of the motor spirit firms to-day. He was told that at present there were good stocks in hand, and that orders were not a great deal above the average. Ten days or a fortnight ago there was a rise in price, and most commercial consumers and garages then bought in fair stocks. At present there need be no anxiety with regard to the supply.

A PAHIATUA RESOLUTION.

(PBE3S ASSOCIATION TELEOBAM.)

PAHIATUA, April 2G.

A large meeting of citizens and farmers this afternoon resolved: "This meeting, being representative of the third party to the dispute, emphatically protests against the hold-up of the business of the country, and demands that steps immediately be taken to bring about a satisfactory settlement. Further, it suggests that a committee ,be immediately set up, comprising five independent business men—who shall add three reasonable railway employees, also three appointees of the Government to their number —for the purpose of adjusting the anomalies if such be found to exist in the Second Division; that pending the bringing down of such report the service be immediately resumed."

The meeting also placed on record its appreciation of the reasonable attitude assumed by the First Division and the E.F.C. Association during the dispute, and expressed the hope that the lead given by these two great bodies would have the effect of drawing together owners and workers of the railways.