EFFECTS OF STRIKE

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33290, 30 July 1973, Page 1

EFFECTS OF STRIKE

The fact that the Canterbury railway strike started on mid-Friday afternoon probably reduced the inconvenience to passengers, according to the District Traffic Manager of Railways (Mr A. D. Campbell).

Although some travellers had undoubtedly been inconvenienced, most had had time to decide not to travel at the week-end or to use alternative transport, Mr Campbell said.

are the ChristchurchBlenheim and ChristchurchLewis Pass-Nelson runs.

from the Nelson area. There is no through-traffic from North to South or to the West Coast.

Both coach lines expect no difficulties in handling the increase. The National Airways Corporation has felt no effects from the strike so far. Mr J. E. Davies, the regional manager, said last evening that week-end flights had left with empty seats. The only provision for extra freight was a special freighter to fly perishable foods from Oamaru to North Island markets. “If the demand is high enough, there will be extra flights running,” he said. However, because all longdistance traffic, in the South Island must pass through Canterbury, the dislocation, in spite of alternative transport, is still widespread. Trains from Invercargill and Dunedin must tum at a point outside Canterbury, as must traffic bringing valuable freight through i Picton from the North I Island, as well as traffic

Passengers coming off the inter-Island ferry yesterday morning found that instead of being met with a connecting train they had to make their own way — but certainly not to connecting services.

Both Newmans and Midland coachlines have recorded an increase in bookings, and expect this to continue for the next few days. Bookings on the southern run to Dunedin were described yesterday by the Midland traffic supervisor (Mr R. Jenkins) as heavy, although there was little change in freight, he said. Three coaches coped with the increase yesterday instead of the normal one. Mr A. M. Garnett, district manager of Newmans Coach Lines, said that bookings and freight had increased by 10 per cent since the rail strike began. The services most affected!

The exact effect of the strike on particular goods was confused at the weekend, the managers of most Christchurch freight companies waiting until today to see how hard they have been hit. Rai) sidings north and south of Canterbury are filling up with diverted waggons, some containing perishables. Particularly susceptible to the effects of delay are fruit and vegetables brought from the North Island. One Christchurch distributor estimated yesterday that there might be as much as 50 or 60 tons of fruit and vegetables lying in sidings if the strike continued.