RAILWAYS DISORGANISED

Evening Star, Issue 19032, 29 August 1925, Page 9

RAILWAYS DISORGANISED

INDUSTRIES AFFECTED. much loss and inconvenience. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.JS. Press Association. BRISBANE, August 29. (Received August 29, at 11.30 a.m.) As tho result of tho railway strike heavy loads were thrown on the tramway officials. As the cars drew uj) at the termini they were rushed. Even tho drivers’ platforms were filled with standing passengers. As all the available cars are regularly in use not much could lie done, but the determination of the people to bo early materially helped tho tramways to cope with the difficulty.

A portion of tho city milk supply, usually sent in by train from the dairying districts, was held up for some time, but fortunately when it was known that a strike was imminent arrangements were made for motortrucks to traverse tho country and secure supplies and bring them in to cool stores. It is expect eel that complete arrangements will he made for to-day. It is slated that if the arrangements are successful many suppliers will adopt the new system, as it is contended they will get a better .service. _ Tho State president of the Australian Railways Union said that a number of applications had been received for the delivery of perishable goods, and in all the cases the requests were complied with. 1 n the Mackay district the strike will have a disastrous effect on tho sugar eano growers. Many thousands of tons of cane are lying at sidings and in tlie fields, and arc rapidly deteriorating. Two big moat works at Townsville have only sufficient cattle to last till to-day, when they will be forced to close, rendering idle 1,100 men. Other smaller works have 450 men idle.

Many’ travellers from the south are held up. At the border there is not sufficient accommodation to provide tor all, and tremendous confusion prevails regarding luggage, much of which has gone astray. Cars to continue the journey’ arc in groat demand, any price being paid for "a seat, but many not having money to pay tins arc stranded. Of 18.000' railway employees, only eight were on duty yesterday. Those were the Railway Commissioner, his secretary’, tho chief accountant, the chief engineer, and the general managers at Brisbane, Townsville, Rockhampton, and Toowoomba. The Premier. in defending the Government’s attitude, held that the responsibility for Die inconvenience and loss did not lie with the Government He said that just as the Government had done all that any reasonable body of men could ho expected to do to prevent a strike, so if. would continue to use every’ effort to bring about a settlement. He rcgret ted that the Railway Union’s Executive, in refusing to accept the Government’s generous offer, had failed to soizo on opportunity ol securing a honofil for the whole of the workers in tho Srato rather than ior a section. That was iho lull purpose ol tho Government's offer.