TRANSPORT STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26289, 22 October 1946, Page 5

TRANSPORT STRIKE

RAILWAYS AND TRAMS VICTORIA’S PREDICAMENT EMERGENCY MEASURES ADOPTED (Rec. 0.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Oct. 21. A complete stoppage of suburban tramways, railways, and railway services throughout Victoria, similar to that of a fortnight ago, occurred today. This time the prime movers in the stoppage were the tramwaymen, who decided to cease work until their demands for better conditions are granted. The railwaymen stopped in sympathy. Whereas the last hold-up was for 24 hours only, the present one is for an indefinite period, and late to-day no moves had been made which might lead to an early resumption. The Premier, Mr John Cain, conferred this afternon with the railways commissioners and the Tramways Board, but no decision had been reached early this evening. The emergency arrangements operating a fortnight ago were again in force and worked satisfactorily, most people getting to work either by hitchhiking or by special transport arranged by their employers. Private motorists helped greatly,' while privately-owned bus* services were granted permission to extend the usual routes. Heavy traffic was carried on the Sydney-Adelaide air services, which rai) extra flights, and a special bus service to Sydney will begin to-mor-row. A State-wide bus service will also probably be organised to-morrow. Trains will run again in South Australia to-morrow, following two days ‘of idleness. A meeting of 1600 railwaymen at Adelaide to-day decided on resumption, but adhered to the decision to ban overtime as from tomorrow. It was pointed out that the Railways Department maintained a policy which led to cancellation of Sunday trains to meet the union’s overtime ban. The departmental cancellations of one day. weekly will probably continue indefinitely.