MINISTER’S STATEMENT

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 184, 30 April 1924, Page 7

MINISTER’S STATEMENT

PREPARED TO DISCUSS POSITION TO-DAY The Minister of Railways (Hon. J. G. Coates) stated, on receipt of the A.S.R.S. letter that he was prepared to meet the president (Mr. M. Connelly) and secretary (Mr. M. J. Mack) of the A.S.R.S. this morning and discuss the position. GENERAL MANAGER’S STATEMENT The General Manager of Railways (Mr. R. W. McVilly) stated last night that the resumption of the services would take some time, es there was a good deal to be done, but an immediate start would be made, and a considerable increase in services would soon be apparent, and by Thursday it would be noticeable. No Main Trunk expresses could be expected until Saturday.

FULL AUCKLAND TRAIN YESTERDAY

A train left Wellington for Auckland at .8 o’clock yesterday morning. The train consisted of 11 carriages, and took over 400 passengers. TO-DAY’S SERVICES The mail train will leave Thorndon Station for Napier .to-day at the usual hour, 9.10 a.m. Suburban trains leave Wellington to-day, as under:— From Lambton for Upper Hutt, 6.30 a.m. and 5.7 p.m. From Lambton for Lower Hutt, 7.0 а. 8.0 a.m., 10.0 a.m., 12.15 p.m., 2.5 p.m., 4.30 p.m., 5.35 p.m. From Thomdon for Plimmerton, б. a.m. and 5.0 p.m. From Thorndon for Johnsonville, 6.45 a.m., 12.15 p.m., and 5.25 p.m. SKELETON SERVICE RUNS WELL LARGE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CARRIED by Telegraph.—Press association. Auckland, April 29. Eight suburban trains outwards and inwards were run to-day, Also one train each way between Auckland and Frankton. A large number of passengers were carried. Heavy rain has fallen, and this may interfere with motor transport in the country. A train, will leave Auckland for Wellington at 7 o’clock on Thursday morning. The passengers will spend the night at Ohakune, and reach Wellington next day. Hawcra, April 29.

The . skeleton service in Taran ■ti is being maintained smoothly, tlie trains running well to time. Motor traffic continues heavy. The effect of the strike so far has not been seriously felt here. A public meeting at Hawera., addressed by Mr. Taylor, of the A.S.R.S. executive, and Mr. R. McKeon, Al.I ~ passed a resolution without dissent, conveying to the railwaymen hearty sympathy in the struggle to better their conditions. REGULAR COMMUNICATION COLLAPSE OF STRIKE EXPECTED Christchurch, April 28. Rail and road freight services in Canterbury are on a better footing today than ever since the strike began. Not only genera) merchandise, but frozen meat and; live stock are being carried on the railway, and regular freight communication with all parts of the Canterbury Plains is being kept up by road. The North Canterbury Transport Committee now has a complete system for handling the traffic. The award covering the watersiders and seamen expires to-morrow. The watersiders will hold a meeting tomorrow to consider what attitude they will take up concerning the strike and the handling of cargo loaded by free labour. Several more strikers returned to duty at the Christchurch station this morning, in addition to those who resumed duty yesterday. The district traffic manager stated to-day that among the men who had started work again were guards, signalmen and porters, over a dozen altogether. It is understood that several platelayers, byidgekeepers. and other men in the maintenance branch also started work. The feeling among departmental officers is that the returning to work of strikers in large numbers is a sign that the end is near at hand. “I believe that to-morrow morning there will he a regular stampede of men back to duty, whether the strike _is settled or not.” remarked one official to-day. His opinion is shared 'or others, who say that the morale of the strikers is distinctly weaker. ANXIOUS TO RESUME Ashburton, April 29. It is reliably stated to-day that a big percentage of Ashburton strikers are anxious to resume work to-morrow, also that the executive has been informed of the local opinion. The branch held a meeting in the afternoon, and though it was confidently expected by a number of strikers that a decision to resume work would be reached, officials declared that there was nothing to report. It is expected that a number of men will report for duty in tho morning. Several gangs of surfacemen and one guard resumed this morning. Timaru, April 29. At a meeting of business men this afternoon it was decided _ to establish an information bureau in a central position and an officer was appointed, whose duty it will be to give all information concerning the times of running trains and motor vehicles between Christchurch and Dunedin and the accommodation in them for passegers and goods. Tt was stated at the meeting that the South Canterbury district is now well pc wed. by motor vehicles and skeleton train service. No. 1 wharf was converted, to-day into p. cp.’.'t wharf, and ?, Ltoanic- vss discharge*! tuul loaded at it

At a well-attended meeting of the Wellington Plumbers’ and. Gasfitte.r.T Union, held in the Trades Hall last night, the Following resolution was unanVmoulsly carried : —'“That thifi union is of the opinion that Parliament should be inmcd.’atoly convened to effect a aobtle.nent re i-ha rsiLvay

IN THE FAR SOUTH WORKERS’ TRAINS RUN Dunedin, April 29. Workers’ trains from Port Chalmers and: Mosgiel were dispatched this morning; also the train to Clyde. The project of bringing stock from Central’ Otago for the sales to-morrow has been abandoned owing to shunting difficulties. A lengthy train, half-empty, was dispatched from Invercargill. Invercargill, April 29. Two additional trains ran locally to-day. “ILL-ADVISED ACTION CABINET URGED TO DO FULL JUSTICE TO MEN By Telegraph—Press Association. Masterton, April 29. The Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union to-dav passed the following resolution: —‘‘That in Hie strike which has been thrust on tlie Dominion by the ill-advised action of the A.S.R.S. executive, this meeting considers Cabinet is the proper body to deal with the trouble. We hope in dealing with it Cabinet will do full justice to the men without placing further burdens on any other group of workers. Further, we are prepared to place our c rganisation at the disposal of the Government, if needed, to help keep the wheels of industry going.” GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED. Hastings, Anvil 29. At a meetii’ig of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce a resolution was adopted regretting the action of the A.S.R.S. in taking direct action without regard for the convenience of the public, and, in the existing circumstances, according whole-hearted Runport to tho Government in its efforts to resent any attempts of an association claiming to represent only a comparatively small section of tho community to transfer to itself power and authority rightly vested in the Government of the country. Pahiatua, April 29. A large open-air meeting this afternoon carried a resolution urging on the Premier “the imperative necessity of .galling Parliament together to deal I’itli the strike.” The resolution alluded to the great cost to local bodies of the unkeen of roads and the hardships suffered by primary producers. Mr. F. Langstone, M.P., and visiting railwaymen were the speakers. DELAY CAUSES ANXIETY. Dunedin, April 29.

There is a feeling of anxiety at the long delay of tho Government in replying to the railwaymen’s offer.

Labour leaders state that if the Government conditions are too harsh the Alliance of Labour will take a hand, when n general strike will be almost unavoidable.

JOTTINGS An engine-driver and firemen, on an engine working near Waltham Road, in the vicinity of the gasworks, at about four o’clock on Saturday (says the Lyttelton “Times”) were subjected to a bombardment with iron bolts from a. party of men who sheltered themselves behind a brick wall enclosing the gasworks property. If the bolts had struck the engine men painful injuries would have been inflicted. Engine men working in Christchurch were very . indignant when they heard of the episode. AVhen the strike took place the men concerned left about a week’s wages behind- They are being paid this week. A taxi-driver from Lyttelton to Christchurch found the road blocked with large stones in two places.