THE STRIKE BEGINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18690, 22 April 1924, Page 8

THE STRIKE BEGINS.

AUCKLAND STATION. PICKETS AT THEIR POSTS. FIRST TRAIN HELD UP. NO GUARD OR SIGNALS. FULL CREWS ON ENGINES. The railway strike commenced at Auckland station last night, just as the ferry clock ceased striking twelve. The goods train scheduled to leave for Frankton at 12.3 a.m. was in the station. Both engines had their full crews. The guard, who signed on at 11.30 p.m., was going about his duties. But when midnight ceased striking, he blew out his lantern, crossed the platforms, and was gone. The strike was on.

For 15 minutes the engines snorted impatiently in front'. Then they were uncoupled and moved off slowly to the round-house. One of the firemen explained that the orders from their leaders were "to do their usual work—no more." But there was no guard for the train, and they could not even do so much. Also the signals were against any train going out.

Members of the A.S.R.S.—the disaffected bodysaid the orders were tto cease work at midnight. After that no outward train was to proceed with their assistance, and guards and signalmen were certain to see that no assistance was given. Actually the last train to leave the station was the 11.15 p.m. for Papakura. The last to arrive will be the special express from Wellington, timed to reach Auckland at 2.50 p.m. It will probably be the last "regular" train moving on the New Zealand railways to-day. Other trains to arrive after midnight are the "goods" from Mercer, a special from Rotorua, due at 5.42 a.m., and the two Wellington expresses at 6.38 and 7.50 a.m.

Promptly at midnight the A.S.R.S. set two pickets, of three men. each, one on the railway platform and the other to patrol the goods yard, to prevent, as one of them explained, any thefts of the thousands of pounds worth of goods that lay in trucks there.

" It is to be strictly peaceful picketing," said the railwaymen in charge, " Violence is prohibited and drastic steps will be taken by us against any of our members who break the rule. We are here to see that none of our members help to man trains. We did not want this fight but it has been forced on us. But we will fight fair." .

The personnel of these first pickets were ail young men. They were quiet enough, there was no elation or demonstration at ■midnight. They had come fortified with hot meals for their lonely vigil. They chaffed a comrade when he went to sign on at 11.45 for 15 minutes' duty. A porter who was requested by an officer to lock up the station after midnight was offered no hindrance. There was no spirit of unreason.

At the round-house the enginedrivera and cleaners were busy on their accustomed round. The v are not striking and have been assured, if trains out are not arranged, that they will be kept on. "We will be asked to do work round the engine," one of them explained. Twenty minutes after midnight, with rain falling softly, the railway station was even drearier than usual. The headless Franktou train stood in one siding, the picket forming the only living group to be seen. It was an undramatic beginning.