THE BUZZ OF THE CARS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3443, 7 February 1912, Page 5

THE BUZZ OF THE CARS.

GREETS WELLINGTON RESIDENTS ONCE MORE. POSSIBLE PROSECUTION OF STRIKE LEADERS. [per tress association.!! WELLINGTON, Feb. 6. The familiar sound of the cars greeted the ears of early risers tie-day, the usual service commencing at schedule time. The permanent way car shed and power bouse staffs ware kept busy throughout Monday night, as there: was a lot -to do after a spell of five and a half days. The lines were choked with dtast and dirt, and the special, scoop was employed all night cleaning, out the grlooves. All the curves had to be greased before they could be negotiated by the cal’s, so dry bad they become with their enforced idleness. All the men turned np to worlc with the exception of six ? but it is considered that in all probability these men. are upon the siclc list. Singularly enough the weather, which was perfect during the period of the strike, changed to-day, drizzling rain sotting in. Suburban residents were therefore peculiarly fortunate in having the sendee restored to-day. The approximate loss of revenue during the strike period amounted to £2190 11s 10d- These figures are arrived at by a comparison with the corresponding* days of 1911. The oars stopped running at 2 p.m. on Wednesday last, and resumed this morning, five and a half days’ revehue being lost. The fares collected on Wednesday up to tlie time the strike commenced totalled £215 Os 1 9d, while there was £471 9s collected on the day last year. The following are the figures:— Wednesday, 1911 £471 9s, 1912 £215 Os 9d : Thursday, £447 5s 9d ; Friday, £424 4s 2;d Saturday, £489 2s 2d; Sunday, £206 Os 4d; 'Monday, £367 11s 2d. Total, £2405 12s 7d, less £215 Os 9d, deficiency £2190 11s lOd. Although the foregoing represent approximately the loss of revenue, it does not mean that that amount of money is. actually lost to the city. Although it is impossible to say at the present time what the actual loss is, a rough idea may be gained by subtracting from the revenue the wages of the men for the strike period. This loss is estimated at between £l7O and £2OO a day, or a total of a little more than £IOOO. On tins reckoning the loss to the city would work out at about £ll9O. The Electrical Engineer and Tramway Manager (Mr. b. Richardson) is busy at the present time working out the exact figures, and lie will submit a report to the Council on Thursday nightThere is every probability that tlie men' who participated in the strike, their leaders and prominent supporters will all be prosecuted under the provisions ot the Arbitration Act. The .Labor Department has not yet taken any definite jsteps in the matter beyond making necessary inquiries and collectin o- data. This it- is understood, will be'submitted to the Minister of Labor in due course.