WORKERS' TROUBLES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17458, 30 April 1920, Page 6

WORKERS' TROUBLES.

MANY WALK TO THE CITY,

NO N SUBURBAN TRAINS.

SCHOOL'" ATTENDANCE ' AFFECTED

The difficulties > experienced by workers in getting into town on the first day of the strike were greatly accentuated yesterday by the fact that there'were no suburban trains at all during the morning. As a result, those, who. attempted'to reach, the city, apart from th« fortunate possessors of bicycles, were faoed with the pros* pect of walking to the cars,, or by good luck getting a lift by the way. Very few placed their faith in a highly uncertain train service, and station platforms from Papakura to Swanson were deserted all the morning. Residents of these districts simply accepted the inevitable, and remained at home; others from Papatoetoe walked into Otahuha, from which point a motor-'bu3 service ran to pnehunga. A number of workers from Penrose walked to the Remuera cars. On the'other line, many set out valiantly to walk four or five miles from Waikumeta and other districts as fax away as Henderson in to New Lynn, from which point there was a motor service right into and also to the Mount Albert cars.

As early as half-past sis in the morning the procession of workers was seen wending its way citywards. Fortunately the morning was beautifully fin®, with a snap in the air that kept pedestrians moving briskly. There was surely a touch of irony in the fact that there passed them, at an early hour, a suburban atationmaster on his bicycle, riding out a good many miles from his home in town, to get to his work.

The tramways department made special efforts to cope with the extra demand imposed on the early morning car service. Although it was not possible to put extra cars on, a number were diverted to the three termini affected, Remuera, Onefa unga, and Mount Albert, between the hours of half-past six and nine o'clock. Thus a greatly increased number of workers were carried into town without unnecessary crowding. The same procedure was followed in the evening, when the workers were returning. * Although many city firms are short staffed, there has been no serious disorganisation of businesa. as the number of workers in each firm who reside in the distant suburbs is not very large. The attendance at the Grammar Schools was somewhat reduced yesterday; word was received from tho .Railway Department the previous day th&t there would be no trains, children from the more distant points being advised to stay at home. The number of pup : ls at the Technical Collage was similarly" reduced, but not sufficiently to interfere with any bf the classes, which are mostly attended by city children. A number of school children who were returning home on Wednesday, waited at the Mount. Eden station from four o'clock until 7.35 for th- belated suburban train.