MAIN TRUNK LINE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23112, 29 January 1945, Page 4

MAIN TRUNK LINE

Trains Moving Again (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 28. Though the railway strike in the North Island has ended and trains are beginning to move again, there is as yet only a restricted service and accommodation is at a premium. Unable to secure accommodation in Wellington or priority travel, approximately 50 persons slept in the railway station on Friday night. A smaller number also slept there on Thursday and Saturday nights. The special R.N.Z.A.F. air service between Wellington and Auckland ceased yesterday when four aircraft each made two trips each way. They carried 130 passengers as well as mall from Wellington. In the afternoon bad weather at Paraparaumu made it necessary to transfer the southern terminal to Milsom, Palmerston North. Tow railcars took passengers on a nonstop run to Palmerston North and brought passengers from Auckland back to Wellington. On Saturday night two special expresses from Wellington took more than 1000 passengers to Auckland. The priority travel board has ceased operations. Intending travellers are now required to book with the Railway Department in the ordinary way. Bookings are accepted only seven days in advance. There were long queues at the booking office all day yesterday. At 7 am. to-day there were three queues each 50 yards long. They remained that length till after 1 p.m. The special air service linking Gisborne with Wellington and Auckland ceased operation to-day. It took 10 passengers from Wellington yesterday and 12 to-day. R.N.Z.A.F. air services maintained essential communication between Wellington and Auckland from Wednesday to Saturday inclusive, and between Gisborne and Wellington and Auckland from Friday to to-day inclusive. Nothing but praise was heard from the public for the efficient way in which th? Air Force carried out their job Air Force officers on their side expressed appreciation of the assistance they had had from the Railways Department and the co-operation of the public. The 3 p.m. train to Auckland and from Auckland to Wellington will be running from to-morrow, but there will be no Limited in the meantime. There were three railcars to Gisborne to-day and two will return to-morrow.

Coal stocks are down to bedrock and the resumption of normal services will largely depend on how’ soon supplies come to hand. Mr L. Mcllvride, general secretary of the A.S.R.S., and its advocate before the Railways Industrial Tribunal, has been appointed assessor representing the society in place of the late Mr J H. Terry.

Westland Calls Strike Off (N.Z.P.A.) GREYMOUTH, Jan. 28.

By 129 votes to 103, the Westland A.S.R.S. yesterday decided to resume work to-night at midnight after a stoppage lasting 10 days. Mr S. Morrison, a member of the National Executive. who attended, informed the meeting that the Executive would call a general strike should the findings of the Tribunal not be satisfactory. The branch therefore resolved that the strike be suspended and the mass meeting be adjourned until February 18 pending the findings. The tradesmen's branch to-day resolved that *n view of the decision of the A.S.R.S., members should resume to-morrow at 7.30 a.m. The road service for miners was resumed to-night. Conditions at Westport are back to normal. Three trains arrived to-day from Ngakawau conveying coal for shipping in port and loading proceeded on the Poolta for Wellington and the Totara for TokomaYu Bay. Railcar services from Westport through the Buller Gorge, linking up with the midland service to Christchurch, will be resumed to-morrow.