THE RAILWAY OFFICERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18692, 24 April 1924, Page 8

THE RAILWAY OFFICERS.

POLICY DURING STRIKE. NECESSITY FOR NEUTRALITY. PROTECTION OF PROPERTY. i fBT TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday, At a meeting of the executive committee of the New Zealand Railway Officers' Institute held to-night, which was attended by all _ members of the committee, matters in connection with the Institute's policy relative to the strike were very fully considered. At the conclusion of the meeting the following official statement was handed to the press:— That from very complete detailed information before the committee covering the attitude of every branch of the Institute throughout New Zealand, it was .evident that practically without exception the members of the organisation were refraining from doing the work of the second division members of the service now on strike. The committee decided to 'impress upon "members the seriousness. of the position and the need of remaining neutral; also to advise that it was considered that members should see that the Railway Department's buildings and property were properly protected.

EFFECT ON DAIRYING.

DETRIMENT TO INDUSTRY. UNION PRESIDENT'S VIEW. EXECUTIVES TO MEET. | [BX TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORBESPONDENT.] TE AWAMUTTjC, Wednesday. In an interview to-day, Mr. Charles Parker, president of the Dairy Farmers' Union, said the railway strike was a serious detriment to the dairy industry, which was already suffering enough through the price of butter-fat falling to the lowest levels experienced since the outbreak of the war. Whatever the result of the present dispute might be, the dairy farmers could not carry heavier loads than they did already, as their produce was selling below the cost of production. If the strike were long continued the dairy farmers would be hard hit, as in many instances the milk must be wasted. Each provincial executive is to be asked to hold urgent emergency meetings in each province to consider the situation, so that by organisation the losses may be minimised. Mr. Parker is urging the dairy farmers to look to the union and to offer suggestions, so that it may deal with the situation from the dairy farmers' viewpoint.

SITUATION IN WELLINGTON.

NO TRAINS BEING RUN. A.B.R.S. AND LOGO. MEN. [BZ TSXIGBATH.OWN COEMtSPONMNT.J WELLINGTON. Wednesday. No development in the strike situation took place to-day and no - trains were run from Wellington. Work qv the wharf went on as usual. It is understood that the A.S.R.S. has a sum running into five figures invested, but it probably does not represent more than - half a week's full wages for the whole of the men on strike. . In wellinformed quarters it is believed that the Alliance or Labour could give no financial support unless the individual unions embraced by it found the money. Regret has been expressed by Mr. J. L. Churchouse, vice-president of the A.S.R.S., that his statement made at Petone concerning the locomotive men being dragged into the strike by their shoulders nad apparently been misunderstood by the acting-secretary of ' the E.F.C.A. Mr. Churchouse said' he never jneant" that the locomotive men would be "bludgeoned" into" a strike against their will. He simply meant that circumstances would force them into it if the trouble continued and the strike widened.

WAIKATO DAIRY PRODUCE.

| LORRY TRANSPORT IN USE. WHOLE DISTRICT SERVED. [BX TELEGBAPH. —OWN COBLBEgPOK'DBMT.] HAMILTON, "Wednesday! The declaration of a strike found the .New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Co. fully prepared for all exigencies, It handles the greater portion of the butter-fat produced in the Waikato and is usually dependent upon the railways for the . transport of an enormous quantity , of cream. Special services have been arranged, however, and large lorries are engaged in bringing the cream cans in to the different factories. The company is now fully able to deal with the position. The butter and cheese from the Hamilton, Ngaruawahia and other factories in this area is being stored in the Horotiu freezing 1 works until the railway service is resumed. In the Lower Waikato, around Tuakau, Pukekohe, Waiuku and surrounding districts, the butter - and cheese is being taken to the Southdown freezing works, while the produce of the company's factories in the Thames Valley is to be shipped direct to Auckland.

CANTERBURY TRANSPORT.

NEEDS MET BY MOTORS. LITTLE PRODUCE MOVING [BT TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH. mdnwaay. The transport of goods by roads offers no trouble at present, and if coal, timber and live-stock be excepted, it seems likely that motor traction will be able to supply almost all Canterbury's needs. Very little produce is, moving at this time of year; most of the traffic consists of general merchandise. Many storekeepers have their own cars and light truck:!. A large number of the country stores_ get supplies already through the existing motor servioes, Borne of which cover long distances, as from Christchurch to Ash burton. These can be augmented, no doubt, by using motor _ trucks now employed in town deliveries. The greatest difficulty is in regard to live-stock. Just now there are few imports for the reason that English exporters were expecting strikes at Southhampton and elsewhere and shipped large quantities of winter gloods early. These good* arrived a month ago. When further shipments reach Lyttelton there will be no lack of motor trucks to convey them to Christchurch.