WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1920, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(Our Special' Correspondent)

THE RAILWAY STRIKE

TRAIN SERVICES CEASE

WELLINGTON, April 28.

Tho railway strike—the cessation of work by the members of tho Locomotive Engineers, firemen and Cleaners 1 Association—is the one topic ot discussion in the city to-day. That there was serious trouble brewing was known for some time before the executive of the Association made its announcement yesterday morning, but the visit of the Prince of Wales was absorbing the attention of the Minister and the General Manager and apparently they were relying upon the men doing nothing to interfere with the reception and entertainment of the Royal guest. They were not alone in assuming the men would not choose such an inopportune time for tho stoppage of the train services and they will not be alone in strongly deprecating the action of the strikers, but the officers of the Association, on their side, declare that the time was not oi their choosing, and that they would be glad even now to receive some assurance from the Prime Minister which would enable the men to return to work. PUBLIC INCONVENIENCE. The stoppage of the train services does not mean merely inconvenience -to people who want to move about the country on business'or on pleasure. It is a much more serious matter than that would be. Wellington is a great distributing centre for merchandise and mails and many of the inland towns it serves will be placed in an extremely awkward position by being cut off from communication with their port. Palmerston North, for instance, is said to have only two days supply of coni on hand and if this is really the case tlm inconvenience and loss awaiting the cap! tal ol' tho Manawatu district with its large population and numerous industrial activities may be easily imagined.

Then Wellington itself is largely dependent upon the railway lor the delivery of its supplies of milk, meat and vegetables. The City Council lias arranged for lorry services that will keep tho municipal milk supply going, but it will not be surprising if this morning’s milk brought down from Otaki bj road is considerably shaken when it reaches the consumers to-morrow. ' THE PRINCE’S TRAVELLING. The strikers’ chief affront to IV Islington. and to the inland towns within the province is in imperilling the itinerary of tho Prince of Wales. However, just their cause may be they will receive little sympathy from the thousands of men, women and children who have been looking forward for-months past to taking part in tho reception ol the royal guest at one place or another. The officers of the Association recognise this fact and urge it as proof oi the urgency of the men’s demands. “We know,” one of their members said this morning, “that any interference with the Prince’s tour would be counted against us and we are just as anxious as the rest of the community is to avoid any catastrophe of that kind.” This declaration was not accompanied

by any explanation as to how the catastroplio could be avoided, short of the Government conceding the men’s full demands, and that is a course for which the Prime Minister is not yet prepared. DURATION OF STRIKE. The sort of rumours one might expect in the cireumstances are flying about this afternoon. One is that prac. ticaily all tho railway workers arc eager to join the strikers and that tlieii Executives arc having great difficulty in boldine them back. On the other hand it is reported that the Government is receiving offers from a sufficient number of qualified men to keep the: more important services going and to earn out the Prince’s itinerary in its entirety. This report is discredited by th e officers of the Association who predict that the employment of “black-legs’ would set the whole railway service m a ferment and bring about general strike. But people in a particularly favourable position to know the temper of the men say it would not he difficult to arrange for the conveyance of the Prince in safety and comfort if the parties go together at once is discuss tins single question. ' , ■ Jill I~'-*