RAILWAY TROUBLES

Gisborne Times, Volume LII, Issue 5463, 26 April 1920, Page 5

RAILWAY TROUBLES

AN EMPLOYEE'S VIEWS. IMMEDIATE STEPS IMPROBABLE. •Utliough it is difficult to obtain 4Uiv definite information on the subibet it would now seem reasonable to lope that, for the present at any rute a strike on- the railways will not eventuate. In conversation with n Times reporter yesterday, a railway (employee stated that so far,they had Received no definite instrnet.ons regarding cessation of nork. Questioned as to the statement hunle by a certain railway employee recently on a visit to Gisborne from another centre. wli 0 alleged that lie had seen a .telegram to a driver at Waipukurau, instructing him to cease work .at midnight on Sunday, tne railwayman stated that there wore -mod reasons for believing that the visitor referred to had been the victim of a hoax. “Fob the present.” said lie ‘T do not think a strike will eventuate, but with the discontent existing amongst railway employees mmoraffy, there is no. telling what? may happen later on.’’

The radwayinen went on to say that there.were three sections of railway employees, viz., the E.F.C.A., A.S.ILS., and R.O.L, each of whom were governed by a separate executive. So far as lie was aware, none of these executives had issued any definite instructions to their respective sections to cease work, and this together with the fact that they were morally bound to stive the Government fourteen days notice of any .intention to strike, inclined him to the opinion that there would be no. immediate developments. In any ease, whatever the E.F.C.A. or A.S.K.S. might do, it was hardly likely that tile 11.0.1, would come out on strike, although he admitted that that section could he of little assistance. to the service in the event of a strike on the part of the other two bodies referred to.

STOP WORE .MEETING AT ADDINGTON. DRASTIC RESOLUTION. Press Association Telegram' CHRISTO 11 URUhI, April 24. At a stop-work meeting, the Addington branch of the A.S.R.S. passed the following resolution:—“That- this slop-work meeting strongly objects io the proposal lor a further commission to investigate conditions on tlu- lines suggested in the Prime Minister’s communication'to the o-en-era! secretary. We support the”action of the executive in filing the dispute for herring under the Industrial Disputes Investigation Act. and failing that course being agreed upon within one week, we urge the executive to give effect to the strike ballot recently taken. If tiic executive are not prepared to give effect to fin's ballot they are called upon to resign.”