PLIGHT OF WORKERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17490, 7 June 1920, Page 4

PLIGHT OF WORKERS

FORCED WALK IN STORM. STRIKERS LOSE' SYMPATHY. EFFECT UPON BUSINESS. ' A soaking rain fell and a strong northeasterly wind prevailed all day and night on Saturday, these conditions doing much to alienate public sympathy from the men responsible for the stoppage of the tram services. Hundreds of men, women, and young folk living in the suburbs were forced to walk into the city in the morning and get drenched by the driving rain en route, forced to work in offices and shops in wuu clothes and boots, forced to set out upon the homeward journey at mid-day ami again get scakod to the skin. The foundation of many a cold was probably laid in this compulsory exposure to the pouring rain. Those who could reach suburban railway stations took advantage of the augmented train services provided to meet the emergency, and so reached the city and returned home later. Others who could afford Is and Is 6d faros each way used the motor vehicles which were again much in evidence on all routes into and out of the city. But these two transport facilities served a mere modicum of the people, the vast majority being compelled to walk The incoming crowds in the forenoon wore swelled by intending racegoers, who were not aware untd they arrived in the city that the Auckland. Racing Club's meeting at Ellersho had been postponed until Monday. Yesterday the weather was fine, but the absence of a tramway service "reduced the number of people abroad. Shortly after seven o'clock on batur<laY morning men and women began to make their wav citywards, and the stream continued until after 9.30 o'clock, many, owing to the distanco they had to come, being half an hour late in arriving at their places of eronlovment. " The shortest road to the city, was the general password, and numbers, in order to gain the (protection of shop verandahs, took " short cuts" hitherto unthought of, and in doing so, at intervals encountered the full force of the storm, and consequently were in anything but a comfortable or' pleasant frame of mind to commence business for the day.

Motor Service Inadequate. Every available motor 'bus and car did service in conveying passengers to and from the city daring the day, and while tho proprietors of these reaped a goodly harvest the public were uncomplaining, for the simple reason that the meagre shelter afforded them by this improvised transport service was preferable to walking miles in a torrent of rain. Obviously there were not sufficient conveyances to meet the demand, hence the long procession of pedestrians on the footpaths during the whole day. That the age of chivalry is by no means past was demonstrated most conclusively by men hanging on to the sides of 'buses in order that women might be made as comfortable as possible, and at the same time be afforded the greatest measure of protection from the elements; while many owners of private cars gave the hospitality of free transport to wayfarers whom they overtook on their way to tho city. Business Finns' Concessions. Incalculable inconvenience was caused to business houses during the early part of tho day owing to many of the staffs not being able to take up their duties at the usual hour. Even when they arrived, in some instances half-an-hour late, time was spent in changing certain of their clothing and arranging for the drying of wet garments in readiness for wearing on return to their homes. Therefore a reasonable estimate of the time lost as a result of the stopping of the trams and the heavy rain may be said to be threequarters of an hour. This naturally was exasperating to firms engaged in a large way of business, but instead of complaining they made still greater concessions, and 'arranged for those of their employees who live in tho distant suburbs to ceas<> work earlier than usual in order to get to their homes at a reasonable hour. The feeling among large firms in the city is that i! the strike should continue much longer they will institute a motor service for the convenience of their employees, and thus avoid any disorganisation of business. Such a scheme as v-as proposed by the Mayor of Mount Eden, Mr. C- Hudson, was being seriously considered on Saturday, and' should the trouble extend far into this week it will doubtless be adopted. Meanwhile hopes are entertained that wiser counsels may prevail, and that the reasonableness of tho demands of the public for fair treatment, so far as the city transport service is concerned, will appeal to those immediately responsible for the present dislocation of traffic. Business as Usual, The attendance at business by employees was quite normal, and but for tho absence of tho trams from the rails there was nothing to suggest that a, strike was in progress. It was only natural that many people who make a practice of coming into the city to do their shopping for the week-end remained at home on Saturday, but there were others whom even the storm and the lack of a tram service could not deter from following their usual practice. Tho economic effect of strikes was brought homo to many workers when they found they had to pay higher fares to travel by the motor service than when riding in the tramcars. Those who felt the pinch rrost were young girls and lads receiving apprentices' wages. In at least, one instanco a girl had to pay 2s 64 to reach her employment, and .Wuming that she was called upon to part with a similar amount when returning home it meant that her travelling expenses exceeded her earnings for the day.