DUNEDIN CITIZENS' PROTEST.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13861, 23 April 1917, Page 3

DUNEDIN CITIZENS' PROTEST.

DANGEROUS RUMOURS SMOTHERED.

'. , DUNEDIN,, April Iq/ A meeting of citizens will be held'in the Town Hall to-morrow to consider "Tho serious position of the city caused by the extreme restriction of railway services, and to urgo tho Government to take drastic measures to overcome the present situation." A rumour gained currency this morning that both itlio,waterside workers and tho.railway employees intended,'to' hold special mcotings to discuss -tlic coal-miners '.strike, and the advisablencss or othorwiso of sympathising with them, ■■'..

The'rumour, it. turned out had i no foundation at all, and was nothing more than idle gossip. The watersiders land railwaymcn have .enough troubles '■ of their own to look after, and are,not anxious to have any nioro thrust upon them. Thoro is very little shipping at the 'port of Otago; work is scarce, and the cost of living very high, l The railwaymcn arc confronted' with 1 tile prospect of serious curtailment of the railway services,- and a consequent'' decrease in the present staff; so there appears to be no reason to express grateful sympathy with the West Coast coal minora.

. The president of tho Duiiedin Watersider Workers' Uniou said in reply to a question. ,"tt is absolute nonsense, and we havo Jicard nothing whatever about any such meeting. Give the rumour the lie direct."

The railwaymcn interviewed expressively smothered tho rumour,

' PUBLIC PROTESTS. DUNEDIN CITIZENS' MEETING. (Per .Press Association.) ■ '■ DUNEDIN, April 21,' A meeting of citizens, to-day resolved to ask the Government to reconsider the train services in view. of. the. fact that it may be possible, so'far as Otago and Southland are concerned, to carry on with coal from the local mines; that tho Government be urged to endeavour by all mean's in its power to end the disastrous strike of 'the West Coast miners, which is inflicting such .serious injury upon the whole of the loyal community; that the meeting assures the Government that in any action it may take it will have the support of the citizens of Dunedin. There was only one dissentient, who apparently feared that any relief from the gonoral pressure put on by the Government might ombarrass tho Government's strategy. The meeting was thoroughly representative.

AN ASHBURTON RESOLUTION. Per Press Association. ASHBURTON, April 20. A special meeting of the- Ashburton County Council to-day unanimously 'resolved: "That the council viows with great disapproval the action of tho miners in their endeavour to hamper the Government at this critical time of the war, and supports the Government in nny steps it may deem necessary to take, in restoring order."