1200 MARCH AT AUCKLAND

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26151, 29 June 1950, Page 4

1200 MARCH AT AUCKLAND

FEW TRAMS AND BUSES

RUN (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) AUCKLAND, June 28. A crowd which was generally silent watched 1200 marchers who took part in the procession organised by the Trade Union Congress this afternoon. Men of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union made up the largest contingent, with more than 700 marchers. On their arrival at Myers Park the marchers lined up behind their banners, filling the children s playing area. The crowd of onlookers was estimated to be about 1400.

Twelve speakers took the stand to urge resolutions ranging from a demand that the Government resign to a demand for a wage increase of £3 a week for workers and £2 for pensioners. All the resolutions were carried by acclamation. A small group of university students dissented from some of the motions.

A large force of constables and plainclothes detectives was present, but there were no incidents. After an hour of speeches the meeting ended at 3 p.m. A total stoppage of the Auckland Transport Board’s services was averted through the actions of a few bus drivers and tramwaymen. Although most of the buses and trams run by the board were at their depot or $ e JP inu s for most of the time between 1.30 and 4 p.m., a skeleton service was maintained by drivers on all the board’s main bus routes, and the period when there were no trams on the road was very brief. School, attendances were not greatly affected by the transport stoppage. Most schools in the suburban areas where normal bus transport was lacking reported almost complete attendances,. In only a few cases were more than an average number absent. Some primary schools in Auckland closed at midday to enable pupils to go home before, the Transport Board services ceased in the early afternoon.