RAIL SERVICES CEASE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25159, 15 April 1947, Page 7

RAIL SERVICES CEASE

SEQUEL TO STRIKE IN MELBOURNE STATE PARLIAMENT TO MEET (Rec. 11 p.m.) MELBOURNE, April 14. All suburban railway services ceased at midnight last night on the direction of the State Railways Commissioners. This is the latest result of the metal trades crisis, which has kept many foundries idle for the last five months and has gradually paralysed Melbourne power services and city and country transport. The commissioner’s announcement was made after the union leaders had decided to withdraw some of the engineers in the Newport power-house, and also to refuse to supply power to suburban trains from Tuesday. Melbourne suburban railways carry 750,000 people a day, including 350,000 through the Flinders street station, which is claimed to be the busiest in the world. During the week-end the Cabinet decided to convene the State Parliament on April 22, a week before the expected date, because of the seriousness of the general situation. The country train service will continue on a shortened schedule. The .developments result from a concerted attack by the Amalgamated Engineering Union, the Ironworkers’ Union, and the Federated Enginedrivers’ and Firemen’s Association on power and transport facilities. The Premier (Mr J. Cain) said that the engineers had acted unwisely in rejecting the recommendation of the Australasian Council of ’Trade Unions not to extend the metal dispute. They had a strong claim for increased wage margins, but the only sensible way the dispute could be settled was by the men returning to work so that the Arbitration Court could hear their case. In spite of the absence of metropolitan trains and of all Governmentowned buses, Melbourne people got to work to-day. The training of the transport strike of last October was not forgotten, and Government departments and employers generally provided special trucks and cars for employees. Trams are still running.

The State Cabinet and the disputes committee of the Trades and Labour Council met to-day, but no results have been reported.