GETTING TO WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17457, 29 April 1920, Page 6

GETTING TO WORK.

SUBURBAN TROUBLES.

ONE OR TWO TRAINS TO RUN.

City workers who live in the more distant suburbs were hard bit yesterday morning by the suddenness of the strike. Although a morning train ran from Papakura, Papatoetoe, and Pwanson, a great many of the workers were not aware of this, in some instances having been informed by railway officials at their own stations that there would be no trains at all. As a result, many did not attempt to leave their homes; others took long ■ walks to the nearest tram terminus, while a few to their stations on the off-chance of getting a train. A number of Papatoetoe residents arrived at the station at seven o'clock; the usual early - morning train did not appear, and, after waiting some time, . several went home again. The same thing occurred at stations on the Swanson line, with the result that when trains finally came through between eight and nine* o'clock they were not more than half-filled. Manuy people walked several miles to Mount Albert, from" New Lynn, Waikumete, and neighbouring districts; others availed themselves of a motor-'bus service between New Lynn and Mount Albert, whore they caught the cars into the city. The early trams from Remuera. and Onahupga were crowded with workers from the surrounding districts, who usually take the train, others walked, cycled, or - obtained "lifts" in passing vehicles, and thus by some means or other the greater part of Auckland's army of workers finally reached their shops, offices, or factories, considerably behind time, but nevertheless on hand for the work of the day. There was a certain amount of disorganisation among city staffs, but not sufficient to interfere seriously with business. Many girls and women workers living in the distant suburbs arranged to ' spend the night in town, rather than risk the uncertainty of the morning. The attendance at the secondary schools was necessarily affected to some extent, a number of pupils rom Helensville. rapakura, and the more distant suburbs being absent. The majority, however, managed to reach the tram termini, and attended school fl*s usual. Only two suburban trains, ohe for Papakura and one for Swanson, wrere despatched from Auckland last evening both leaving much after scheduled time The Papakura train, timed to leave at 5.50 0 clock was not despatched, until 0.10 while the Swanson train, which should have left at 5.35, di d not leave until 6.35 pm I&ore five o'clock a dense crowd had congregated at the station, a large number of strikers beina present. Owing to the non-appearance of the trains, many suburban resident* left the statirn, preferring either to remain in town or to get as near home as possible by tramcar. When the Papakura train comprising eight carriages, backed into the platform every seat was filled in a few minutes, _ the railwaymen gathering round the engine driver and firemen who were greeted with cheers and sarcastic remarks. The departure of the train was the signal for another outburst of cheer•ine. When the Swanson train appeared the crowd had dwindled 'considerably, and there were many vacant seats -when the train left. The proceedings were quite orderly, and though the strikers were much in evidence round the engines, there were no hostile demonstrations. The outgoing tramcars during the rush, hours last evening ,wer& crowded. j