NO TRAINS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 6 September 1927, Page 5

NO TRAINS

BRISBANE SERVICE CEASES. GLOOMY STRIKE POSITION. POLITICAL ISSUE DEVELOPING. BY CABLE-PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHI BRISBANE, 'Sept. 5. The parties to the railway dispute met at the Arbitration Court, but on the application of the unions an. ad,j v.rnment was granted until to-morrow, on the union promising a definite ansv or then regarding the acceptance or not of the terms of settlement proposed bv the Board of Trade.

The outlook is very gloomy, both parties refusing to give way in the slightest, and it, is stated that if a scttlelr.c nt. is not reached to-morrow a genet al ransport strike is possible. There was a complete cessation today- of the train service in Brisbane, all the stations, except for the pickets which took up their duties at midnight, Icing deserted. All traffic to-day was bv motor omnibus.

The Government had hoped, with the number of applicants for re-employment at its disposal, to introduce a skeleton train service to-morrow,- but the Railway Commissioner has now announced that in trains will, run, now that the unions have declared the railways “black, the commissioner apparently finding it impossible to put his plan into operation.

The position is rapidly assuming a political aspect and will probably end in a struggle between the industrial and political sections of the Labour Party-. While, at present, 'Cabinet is strongly* behind the Premier, he will have to face a caucus before Parliament meets on Tuesday, and while it is anticipated that there’ will be some defections, it. is believed that the majority of the party will continue to support him. The Leader of the Opposition states that it is absolutely essential that the Government should see that the laws are -observed and that the Opposition will do its utmost to support the Government, so long as it maintains its present attitude.

CROWDED BRISBANE STREETS. BUSES AND TRAMS COPING WITH TRAFFIC. SKELETON RAILWAY SERVICE PROMISED TO-DAY. Received 11.15 a.m. to-day. BRISBANE, Sept. 6. Owing to the stoppage of the railway services the streets of Brisbane are crowded with motor-ears and' buses of all descriptions. Almost every earowner drove to town. There was a difficulty in finding room to park cars. In the city thoroughfares, at knocking off time, 'lines of motor buses were rushed bv people anxious to reach their homes. These, together with the trams, coped very satisfactorily .with the traffic. •Mass meetings of railway men at Brisbane and Ipswich reaffirmed thensolidarity. It was indicated that twenty trains would be running to-day. The oil steamer Pinna, with fifty thousand cases of motor spirit and kerosene, is anchored off Townsville because the cargo cannot be discharged owing to the strike. It is stated that the carters decline to deliver it, from the wharf into the stores.