AUCKLAND MEN GO OUT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17456, 28 April 1920, Page 7

AUCKLAND MEN GO OUT.

A Well-preserved Secret.

ENGINES SENT TO SHEDS.

DRIVERS REFUSE DUTY.

STRIKE NO SURPRISE.

MANNING THE ROYAL TRAIN.

NO DIFFICULTY EXPECTED.

The strike of the railway enginedrivers. firemen, and cleaners in Auckland commenced at midnight last night. An indication of what was to happen was provided earlier in the evening by the refusal of enginedrivers and firemen who had completed their runs to undertake any further work. At midnight the engines engaged in shunting operations in the station yard wera returned to the sheds, and the cleaners on the nightshirt ceased work. The strike means that few trains can be run in Auckland to-day. The first train affected was the meat train, which is scheduled to leave for Westfield at 2.30* a.m. It is understood that the man who was to have driven this train told the officials early in the evening that he had no intention of doing so. A similar course was taken by other drivers when informed of allotted to them for to-day.

The instructions to strike apparently came as no surprise to the men, although it caused excitement to run high. Members of the Enginedrivers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association were to be seen in groups during the afternoon and evening eagerly discussing the situation. The refusal to do further work at the conclusion of their runs was universally adhered to. Statement by Railwayman. " The strike is for increased wages and better conditions," a prominent member of the Enginedrivers, Firemen and Cleaners' Association said. " Twelve months ago ■we took a ballot and got a majority pi 97 per cent, in favour of a strike. Our position then was bad enough, but now it is worse." Regarding the tour of the Prince of Wales, he said the association had no quarrel with His Royal Highness, and would provide relief drivers and firemen for his journeys in the North Island. " What about the pilot and emergency trains?'' he was asked. "We will place no obstacles in the way of those trains, or of the tour being carried out as arranged," was the reply. An assurance was also given that the 300 petty officers and men of the Renown who left for Rotorua last evening would be returned as arranged.

The intention of the enginedrivers to strike was a well-preserved secret. The majority of th members of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants knew nothing about the matter until yesterday afternoon. Rumours that that society was also to strike at midnight were emphatically contradicted by officials. "Our executive council has been summoned to Wellington urgently, and cannot possibly meet before this" afternoon," a prominent member of the association said. "As to what the decision of the executive will be I cannot say. The votes cast in the recent ballot on the strike question hav e yet to be counted." ft is understood that "one Auckland member of the executive did not receive his telfgram instructing him to go to Wellington until it was too late. While it seemed to be the general opinion among members of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants that that society would not join in the Htnkg some men expressed the opinion that the railway workshops would be idle to-day. ?.nd that the strike would spread quickly.