POSITION AT TAWARUNUI.

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

POSITION AT TAWARUNUI.

MEN LEAVE FOR HOWES.

» CONGESTION IN GOODS YARDS. [BX TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TAUMABUNUI. Wednesday. Twenty-nine railway employees are affected by the strike here. A number purchased tickets yesterday, leaving by the last trains for their homes. Thorough preparations had been made by the Locomotive Association to take the expresses I back, so that the men could remain in I their home towns. Up till this morning the members of the Amalgamated Society |of Railway Servants did not know that the engineers, firemen, and cleaners were going out. Large stocks of goods are held at Frankton, Ohakune, To Kuiti, Taihape, Marten, Mercer, and Penrose. At Taumarunui every yard is full. One consignment for the south, three tens of fish, -.vaa I disposed of locally. Included in tie goods ■ delayed locally are a number of trucks of I sheep and cattle. The stock firms have ! taken charge of them, and will find accommodation, but whether this additional tipense in removal charges and crazing will be a charge on the Railway TJepartment or the owner remains to be Been. Ho greatest possible care is being taken to preserve stocks of perishable goods, as tne strikers have no intention, of irgurii.g the farmer or the general public, and will endeavour to meet their wishes so far as lies in their power. There are sufficient stocks of necessaries in Taumarunui to last three or lour days without any inconvenient-} to the Eublic. If the strike lasts longer it will e hard to say to what extent 1 .lunarunui will suffer. On numerous occasions deputations an.l local bodies have stressed the urgent need of road access to large centres in view cf such trouble as the present one. It is practically impossible to re%ch any lii-jre towns by road. The waterway to Wanganui provides one mode of t-ansport, and, if the strike goes on for ft week it is ver» possible that stocks will be b.-ouj»nt fiorn Wanganui. Sugar, potatoes, and kerosene arc the only lines in which a shortage exists. There is a good stock of flour. One hotel in Taumarunui has 26 visitors, but these take the course of events philosophically. Wanganui will always be open from Taumarunui via the river.