NO TRAINS AFTER MIDNIGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27580, 23 December 1950, Page 6

NO TRAINS AFTER MIDNIGHT

STRONG APPEAL BY MR HOLLAND Special Correspondent WELLINGTON, Dec. 22. Railwaymen’s officials announced tonight that there will be no reversal of the decision to strike at midnight tomorrow. It is quite definite that no trains or railway buses will run anywhere in New Zealand after that hour. A flood of telegrams giving support to the strike was received at the office of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants today from branches all over the country. Other transport have pledged their support if called on by the railwaymen. There is a strong rumour that the Government may declare a*state of national emergency when the strike has actually begun, but railwaymen’s officials are preparing for a long siege and give every indication of standing firm whatever action the Government may take. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister, Mr Holland, has made a strong appeal that in the interests of the public wiser councils should prevail on the part of the railwaymen so that an already serious situation should not be aggravated.

Importance is attached to the national conference of the Engine Drivers, Firemen and Cleaners’ Association which opens in Wellington tomorrow. The association has not associated itself with the strike but will determine its policy at this conference. The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants and the Railway Tradesmen’s Association have not yet made any appeal to any other union or to the Federation of Labour for support in the strike. Any developments of this kind will apparently wait until after the week-end.

The Railway Officers’ Institute, representing the salaried officers of the railway service, has instructed its members to perform only normal duties and refrain from doing work normally done by general division employees.