MINERS' PICNIC TRAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24821, 18 February 1944, Page 2

MINERS' PICNIC TRAIN

PERMIT WITHDRAWN ' ACTION BY DEPARTMENT (0.c.) GREYMOUTH. Thursday It is apparent that the Government has now taken determined steps to prevent any further running of trains other than those scheduled under the original plan of travel and conveyance restrictions. After granting a permit for the running of a third miners' picnic train from Blackball to Westport on February 26, the Railway Department has now'advised the persons responsible for organising the picnic train that the authority for its running has now been withdrawn. No explanation is forthcoming of this belated action, even although the application was on all fours with the picnic trains for the Runanga State mines district and combined Brunner mines and schools picnic forwhich, it is understood, the miners provided the coal. It was also understood that the coal was to be provided in the case of the Blackball district miners' picnic train to Westport. The previous announcement, made yesterday, was to the effect that the Railway" Department had agreed to relax its "restrictions on picnic parties requiring special trains for a third time, presumably under the conditions imposed in the first two cases—that the coal should he provided to run the trains. MEN ON FURLOUGH HAMILTON CIVIC WELCOME (0.C.) HAMILTON, Thursday A civic reception was tendered todav to men from Hamilton and the neighbouring districts who recently returned on furlough from the Middle East. Tho men marched from Garden Place to tho Theatre Royal, where speeches of welcome were made and congratulations extended by the Mayor, Mr. H. D. Caro, and a number of representative speakers. Afterward the men were the guests of the Borough Council at luncheon. COST OF ENTERTAINMENT GOVERNMENT'S CONTRIBUTION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Thursday The Government has decided to pay local bodies .£1 toward the cost of entertaining each man and woman of the second furlough draft, as was done in the case of the first draft. The decision covers personnel who arrived in the interval between the two drafts. KILLED BY TRAIN THE' CORONER'S VERDICT (0.c.) HAMILTON, Thursday The inquest into the death of Mr. William Henry Ross, aged 59, who was struck by an express train at Taupiri on December 14 and fatally injured was concluded before Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., coroner, to-dav. A verdict was returned that deceased died from head injuries. The coroner added that the occurrence wi\s acfcidental and was duo entirely to deceased's own action. BOY HURT AT BATIIS Concussion was suffered by William Watson, aged 13, of 33 Bright Street. Eden Terrace, when he slipped and fell on to a stone floor at the Tepid Baths last night. He was admitted to the Auckland Hospital and his condition was later stated to be fairly serious. GO-SLOW MAINTAINED (0.C.) GREYMOUTH, Thursday In spite of the absence of any official statements, the go-slow policy set into operation at both the Liverpool and Strongman State mines on January .'U is being maintained. On the other hand, mine workers in the Grey Valley field have worked smoothly, and have kept production at a high peak, particularly m the past few weeks. It is not anticipated that there will be any developments before early in the coming week.