THE RAILWAY TROUBLES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14044, 29 April 1920, Page 1

THE RAILWAY TROUBLES.

- THE STRIKE BALLOT. OVERAVHELMBSTG MAJORITY. , By Telegraph. , to the Qamaru Mail.\ ' : WELLINGTON, April 28. ' 'The secret ballot of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants was overwhelmingly >in favor of a_ strike tnrcughout.the Dominion,":">, said MiHampton, Amalgamated President, tonight. "I myself and the Executive associated with" me had hoped up: till the last minute to have averted any spread of the trouble. We had expected a'reply ere this with regard to our requests that the dispute besettled under the Industrial I Disputes Investigation Act; but in the absence of any such reply \vhich might-'haye enabled us -to haye staved off. trouble; so fair; as our then .are concerned; ahdiii view of the enormous pressure brought upon us '.by , our branches in connection with the action taken 'v by ■ ttiev Joco men, and: also the,; emphatic majority of our. own' strike.: ballot,'we alternative,;but to adopt the present course." Mr. Hampton mentioned that the ballot papers were: available for inspection by any an-; thorieed officer of the Labor Departii'fent if the; Minister of Railways wished to have them scrutinised.

The| Amalgamated Society _de,clare.; that the strike executive's decision is confined : to the North island . meanwhile. Owing to the difficulty of travelling and the short notice of the Amalgamated Society's emergency meeting of the executive, .there was not a. full meeting of councillors today, but the re.sult-.of the strike ballot was telegraphed to councillors en route, .and their opinions were available tor the guidance of their colleagues m Wellington. The: executive's 4 ot ' s ' uu to declare a strike in the Nojth'island immediately was made knowtt by Mr Hampton, the Amalgamated President, to a large gathering of Wellington members of the Society, who had come to headquarters to know what they should do- under the difficult circumstances with "scab" trains running on suburban sections.

.Mr Hampton, addressing these me», said:.'•The Executive has decided to declare a strike forthwith in the North 'island, arid if it becomes necessary/ later in the South- Island also. — (Cheers.) I ask you as men to refrain from lawlessness.—(Hear, hear.) As a personal favor to myself, I ask you to refrain from lounging about hotel bars, because the money which you may be tempted to spend in-drink ■ "may mean the difference between success or faiiure in this fight. I do not say this as a 'wowser,' but I say that if we are going \o win—and I a>m confident we are going to .win} and I know what I am talking about, not-only in ■regard to what-is happening amongst our men, .but amongst organised labor generally—" Three cheers for" Mr. Hampton and cheers for the strike interrupted his speech at this : point. ..-- Mr Hampton concluded : "I ought to add■'" this-, there have been. differences between our organisation and the Loco-motive'Association-in the past, "but this .business is undoubtedly going to be .the nieahs 6JS:' • soliaifyihg railwaymen :in New Zealand; There is no question about that,, and so far as any differ- I ence or arguments between, the leaders j of the respective societies in :the past are concerned they are done with. , "We star.t this fight arm in arm, shoulder to shoulder. ■ '■■ ■ Several men enquired when the-strike would start. '■'• " ' Mr .Hampton replied: "We did not fix. a definite time, \m\ if you are called for duty now you should not work."— (Hear, hear.) ■. '■-■ ' RUNNING UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 1 The few suburban trains funning to- x | day experienced many difficulties en ' route' owing to the undecided attitude 'of the Amalgamated .Society's men. some absolutely refused to' work and others decided- to await- • instructions from, their; union. 6 The result was that a train starting from Wellington would encounter a signal at danger, and.all the shrill whistling from the engine would not bring it to a-clear position, the signalman having left his box. It then needed an authority .-to proceed against the signals,:, which was- done alter delay in telephoning. Other holdups occurred through tablet men who were remaining on duty to allow longdistance trains to complete their run- - ning refusing the tablet to so-called "scab" trains. This was a* cause of more delay in the, interests of safe running. There was 'difficulty over several of the first division men being called upon to take second division positions and firmly refusing to do anything but their actual clerical or adniinis- . trative duty. : Several employees were suspended tor refusing other orders. This roused the resentment of, the remainder, and it was a. foregone conclusion early this afternoon that no.Wellington railwaymen of cfche second division would report for uuty to-morrow. The goods sheds were closed, the engine sheds were silent, and the stations deserted until evening, when suburban dwellers gathered on the chance of be-ing-taken home. They were accommodated to a limited extent, but scores secured seats in motor lorries, whose drivers charged 2s for what the rail- • way fare is 6d. RISE IN .VEGETABLES. In anticipation of a. shortage in Wellington vegetable foodstuffs market prices; showed an all-round: advance. This was most noticeable in the case of potatoes, which. -were selling; yestevdav at £9 per ton, but -to-day realised as'much as £ls, an advance of £6. Supplies this morning were not so heavy as usual, but. the full effect of the strike will not:be felt until one whole day after the cessation of railway services. Delivery of supplies' which arrived at the good sheds yesterday afternoon and overnight was undertaken by merchants themselves, there being no, labor offering at the sheds. The fact that Manawatu, . ■ Wairarapa, and Hawke's Bav districts are largely de".pended on for supplies, and "there being no possibility of vegetables coming to hand from these places, will result in '■■ tin "exceptional demand for local sup-» plies,- notably those from the Hutt di?tricts. which' are brought into town by ■'other means than the railway. It is considered that very little can be done to-arrange for- the cartage, of supplies. : "her prices will undoubtedly rule as. lon°r<as the strike continues,: while only local supplies will be available. • No difficulty is expected in regard to supplies coming bv sea. Concerning fruit, which will he similarly affected, it is stated that-there is at present- a plentiful supply in Wellington. "What muddle superfluous- preparation makes."—Stanus/"; Certainly be prepared, for. wise preparation means also the battle /halfwon;- but superfluous preparation is. .illadvised. Always be prepared during winter, time,-which; to the unprepared is chronic cough and cold time. ;Ba:xr . ter*B : Lung Preserver is alnple-pre-paration, for this sterlings remedy-is a sure, safe and prompt remedy. It nips the trouble in the bud and fortifies ■■ against "the Teturn-visit. ; The home that knows "Baxter's" is cough and cold proof. Get large bottle of this 54-year-old specific to-day. 2s 6d at chemist and store.