General Rail Strike No Fresh Developments In Railway Dispute; Strike Will Begin At Midnight

Wanganui Chronicle, 23 December 1950, Page 6

General Rail Strike No Fresh Developments In Railway Dispute; Strike Will Begin At Midnight

WELLINGTON, Last Night (P.A.).No fresh move was made by the Government today in the threatened railway dispute following the break-down of negotiations late last night. There were no discussions between Cabinet Ministers and the national leaders of the general division railway organisations, nor was any approach made by either side for negotiations. The Prime Miriister (Mr. Hol-I “

land), who is due to leave in a few days time on his mission abroad to attend the conference □f Commonwealth Prime Ministers is remaining in Wellington over the Christinas week-end and most other members of the Cabinet will be at immediate eall to deal with any developments that might arise.

Mr. Holland said in an interview tonight that to paralyse the railway transport system at this time would be a needless and entirtly unjustifiable act and he felt that surely wiser counsels would prevail before an already serious hold-up reached calamitous proportions. Thousand upon thousand of families had had plans for happy holidays ruined by tactics that could best be described as utterly unnecessary. ‘*l just cannot bring myself to believe that such an act was taken, except through some mistake, by those who, for the moment, have the power to persuade so splendid a body of men and workers into this decision,” said Mr. Holland. <4 ln the last day or two surely those concerned must have seen the needless anguish that they have forced upon folk who must relay on rail transport for both their normal and their holiday travel. “I would like to make the position of the Government crystal clear as to its deep concern at such a needless eventuality. I want everyone to know, however, that it would be intolerable for the Government to allow itself to be intimidated by such a threat at such a time. The Government stands for the present system of conciliation and arbitration, as do the vast majority of the people. “The door is open for discussion at any time. I repeat that we are quite willing for the railwaymen to have! every opportunity to have their claims j considered as soon as the Court of Arbitration has announced its decisioh on the application for a general order increasing wage rates. Where then is the basis for disruption in the midst of the festive season, with its widespread accompanying public inconvenience? Finally, I can only hope that further consideration will lead to the avoidance of a major crisis.”