RAILWAY STRIKE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 29 August 1925, Page 9

RAILWAY STRIKE.

POSITION IN QUEENSLAND,

EIGHT MEN ON DUTY. DISLOCATION OF INDUSTRY. tJY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT. (Received Aug. 29, 1.30 p.m.) BRISBANE, Aug. 29. As a result of the railway strike heavy loads have been thrown on tramway officials. As cars drew up at the several terminii they were rushed, even the drivers’ platform being filled by standing passengers. As all available cars are regularly in use, not much could be done, but the determination of the people to he early materially helped the tramways with the difficulty. That portion of the city milk supply usually sent m by- train from the dairying districts was held up for a time, but fortunately, when it was known that a strike was imminent, arrangements were made for motor trucks to traverse the country, secure supplies, and bring them in to the cool stores. It is expected that complete arrangements will be made for to-day, and it is stated that if these prove successful miany -suppliers will -adopt the new system, as it is contended they will get a better service. The State president of the Australian Railways Union said a number of applications had been received for delivery of perishable goods, and in all cases the requests were complied with. In the Maekay district the strike will hav© a disastrous effect on sugarcane growers. Many thousands of tons of cane are lying at sidings and in the fields rapidly deteriorating. Two big meat works at Townsville have only sufficient cattle to last till to-day, when they will be forced to close, throwing 1100 men out of work. 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 for all, and tremendous confusion prevails regarding luggage, much of which has gone astray. Cars to continue the journey are in great demand, any price being paid for a seat. But many people, not having money to pay, are stranded.

Of 18,000 railway employees only eight were on duty yesterday. These were, the Railway Commissioner, his secretary, the chief accountant, the chief engineer and the general managers at Brisbane, Townsville, Rockhampton and Toowoomba. The Premier, in again outlining the Government’s attitude, held that responsibility for the inconvenience and loss did not lie with the Government. He said that, as the Government had done all any reasonable body of men could be expected to do to prevent a strike, so it would continue to use every effort to bring about a settlement. He regretted that the Railway Union executive, in refusing to accept the Government’s generous offer, bad failed to seize the opportunity of securing a benefit for the whole of the workers in the State rather than for a section. Taht was the full purpose of the Government’s offer.