FEWER TRAILS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15869, 7 April 1917, Page 8

FEWER TRAILS.

•♦EVERT OUNCE OF ENERGY

NEEDED FOB WAR."

IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS.

The suggested curtailment of railway services throughout New Zealand and more particularly in its local application formed the subject of a representative deputation of residents of the Hutt Valley and others interested to the Minister of Railways, the Hon. W. H. Herries, on Thursday morning (says tho Wellington i; Post")- Mention was also made of the proposed abolition of troop trains on Sundays. In replying, the Minister expressed his pleasure at meeting tho deputation and hoped ho would bo pardoned for making a more lengthy statement than was usual under such circumstances. Taking it for granted that everyone in tho Hutt Valley was actuated by a desire to bring the war to a successful conclusion and tho desirability of keeping up our remiorceruents, tliero would bo 110 need for him to dwell at any length on tho necessity. Suffice it to say that there was a very special need this year for the country to put every, ounce of its energy into the vigorous prosecution ol tho war. Thero was now a special appeal to all to sacrifice everything, even their businesses to endeavour to bring tho war to a successful conclusion 5 this year, and tho Government was prepared to ask tho people for a radical change in their mode of living, etc. Continuing, Mr Herries said that ho wanted to put tho case of tho Railway Department clearly before the deputation. It was generally conceded that, since the ballot came into force, if any inconvenience wero to bo experienced, tho Government should set the example. The Government could not call on others, farmers and merchants, etc., if it was not prepared to set that examplo by combing out its own Departments, and the Railway Department had always been referred to as tho one to which attention should first bo paid. What, he asked, had tho Railway Department done voluntarily? It had sent away over 5500 men, including a quarter of its permanent men. Still the Department had Carried on—business as usual —and tho peoplo ought to bo thankful to tho Department for what had been done. Had tho newspapers had their way, tho present suggested curtailment would havo como six months ago. Tho travelling Season was now nearly over, and tho peoplo would tc able to got over Easter, but tho Department was compelled by public opinion, by Cabinet, and by tho Military Service Boards, to let more men go. If ho wero to stand up and say ho would not let another man go, ho was nuito sure ho would be asked to resign his position. Tho Railway Department must bear its share. At present thero wero Romo 800 men, like Mohammed's coffin, 't\v ixt air and earth, whoso time of exemption had been extended to May Ist. The Military Service Boards would either havo to givo further extension or tho men would havo to go. At the same time, thero wero somo essential men whom the Deoartnient could not possibly let go. Probably, also, in tho next ballot thero would bo another 200 men. Then there was another question. Tho Department, ns ho had said, had carried on as usual, ghort-handed, hut theposition was becoming more acute. Was jt fair, he asked, that those men who wero left behind should be asked to carry on such an enormous business as that of tho Railway Department, shorthanded? These men had been working overtime, long hours without any extra remuneration, and tho peoplo undoubtedly owed a debt of gratituue to them. For the reason ho had stated above thero must have been somo curtailment THE COAL SHORTAGE. Dealing with tho coal shortage, tho Minister referred to Christmas time, when there was a possibility of a general strike. At that timo, he said, it was quito_ possible that an even moxo drastic thing than the present curtailment would havo taken place, but fortunately tho clouds had cleared and they had been able to get supplies. Since then he had "been ablo 'to accu-* mulato somo supplies, but still thero was an enormous shortago now, and tho prospects wero that it would not bo relieved at aIL There was a great shortage of bottoms to carry tho coal, and everyone know that our own mines hnd not been keeping up their output. If the railway services were to be continued in full someone would havo to go short. Tho curtailment, had been urged from the Old Country, whero the position in this respect was regarded as very serious. AN IMPERIAL SUGGESTION. Proceeding, the Minister road a letter from tho British Minister of Munitions to the High Commissioner, which had been forwarded to him, and which recommended railway curtailment. The British Government had pointed out that it would bo impossible to supply material for locomotives, repairs to rolling stock, etc. Ho wished to assuro tho deputation that tho whole question had given him and tho Department considerable concern. They had not entered into tho matter in any panic or in any hurry. They wero face to face with on© question—they had to comb out tho men, and if they did not tho timo for sending away men of tho Second Division would como all tho sooner. Tho Government did not want to do 'this before all the available single men had been dealt with. Tho Government would lose revenue by its proposals; it was sacrificing revenue. Thov wero not adopting these proposals for pleasure or in any spirit of piquo with tho Defenco with whom they wero working hand-m-hand.

PRIMARY OBJECT, MORE'MEN. Then, again, Mr Herrics went on, it had been asked, "is the curtailment proposed a proper one?'' Ho wished to say that its primary object was to get more men for the forces. It had been suggested that he should close certain "non-essential" lines, such as the Otago Central line, but by that they would gain very few men—there was only one passenger train per day on that line, and the lino ana others must be open for goods traffic. It would bo impossible to close the goods traffic; they must send away the produce of the country, which was almost as essential as the men. Goods trains must run. THE LOCAiL APPLICATION. The problem was how jbo make the greatest cut; how to get the most men. The placo where the greatest saving was going to take place was where double, and even treble, shifts aro being worked. Unfortunately, this would fall to 'the greatest extent on suburban areas, which, he admitted, would suffer most. That, he contended, must bo so, as it was on those lines that the bulk of the men were employed. It had been said that the proposals were not necessaiy or that the "cut" was being made in an unnecessary way. If only a very small number of men were going to bo liberated by the curtailment of suburban trains it would not bo done, but ho could assume them that the proposals were going to release a very .largo number of men on the suburban lines of the Dominion. AVAILABILITY OF WOMEN. It had been said that women and superannuated men might be employed, but unfortunately the men who were wanted—and whom the Department had to send—were the youngest and most active of its employees, whoso places could not be- taken by the people mentioned. Women could unt; do

shunting work; they could not go oil to the lootplates of the engines. Certainly they could go into tho offices but tho Department was laced witii no difficulty there, as there were hundreds of young cadets ready to stop in and tako their places until tho tirno carno (which ho hoped would never come) when they should bo called to tho Colours. Tn© groat dillicnlty was that the men who had to be sent were men who could, not be replaced. An alteration in the ticket system was proposed; it was being simplified in order that women might bo employed on suburban trains as ticket-collectors, but woman's workdid not lie on tho express trains, with tho necessary handling of luggage, etc. The Railway service was a trained service, and the work of a guard on an' express train involved the shunting of trucks, handling of waybills, and a certain measure of accounting. WHAT THE REQUEST MEANT. Proceeding, tho Minister s aid that in regard to local conditions lie must agree that essential industries might suiter. '4 Ho desired to point out that it lie were * to put on a 9 o'clock train to tho Hutt « Valley, as * suggested, it would mean that lie would havo to bring back u second staff. He could not ask the other statf to corno back after their day's work. If a second staff was brought on tho whole object of the "cut" would be gone. The running of a train meant more than an engine-driver and a guard; it meant signalmen, clorss, ticKet-sellers, etc., and of course such a train as that suggested would have to como back to town. Ho was aware of tho difficulty in regard to essentia! industries, but bo would ask them to think if there was not somo other way of getting over tho difficulty than uy nsking tho Railway Department not to send tho men to tho front, as that was what tho request meant. If the really essential trains wero not run, how was the transport work goiug to be done? and there was always the possibility of a shortago of coal. The people engaged in tho industries referred to—the bosses, ho meant—should endeavour to suit, their businessos to the train houre so far as possible. Ho admitted thai thero would bo great inconvenience, and perhaps great loss, but all should put their heads together to see if there was not somo way in which they could meet tho existing state of affairs—a national emergency. Tho Department was endeavouring to provide trains to bring the suburban people into their work and to take thorn liomo again. It was tho duty of tho , Department to provide for normal work,\ but not to provide for abnormal work * at tho expense of sending men to tho front. An effort should bo made hv . tho business peoplo to have tho work done, as far as possible, within normal hours.

POSITION OP TROOP TRAIN'S. Referring to soldiors and troop trains, ; tho Minister said tho position was simple. If tlia Defenoo Department wanted tho trains they had only to say so. and the trains would bo provided. The Government had no desire to inflict any undue hardship 011 tho soldiers, and, as a matter of fact, would lose a very considerable revenue by the abolition of tho Sunday trains to and from camp. If the Department woro to put on a train for the soldiers, would they not bo immediately met by the cry, "Oh, you put a train on for them, why nob for us?". WHAT MAY BE IX STORE. "Tho truth is," said Mr Herries, "that it may como that wo shall havo to try to prevent you from travelling . at all. This is only tho first 'cut,' and when tho Second Division time comes a much deeper 'cut' may bo expected, and it may como to tho position in England, where they havo to get permission to travel. It may be that wo may soon only havo two expresses a week to Auckland." - • Concluding, he said that there was J no desire on tho part of tho Depart- » mcnt to do any hann to industries or- '' any harm to education, but tho present - hours would havo to be altered if possible, that was, if they wcro to carry out their pledges of sending men away. On May Ist 1000 men would bo coming before tho Military Appeal Board, and tho Department would havo to mako objections for somo of them. He would , appeal to tho patriotism of the people to try to see if they could not help ]n : an extremely difficult position. Let them wait until the new timo-table came ou, and then the Department would no ; ; glad to meet them in any reasonable . requests. 60 long as they could keep within the boundaries laid down os essential to tho sending of the maximum number of men with what ho thought was the minimum of inconvenience. In making any sacrifices, ho could assure thorn that they were reallv holping tho British Empire. (Applause.)

WELLINGTON'S SUNDAY MILK. (rBESS ASSOCIATION" TELEGRAM.) v ; WELLINGTON, April o. N Tho City Council passed a resolution with HMo opposition supporting tho ... Government in the proposal to cut down imncccs6ary trains, but protesting strongly against abolishing troop trains. . Tho Mayor said that Sunday mils would now have to be brought from • < Otaki and Foatiherstou, each about forty miles away, by motor. Tho secretary of tho Hospital Boa) d . s has written to tho Minister of Railways asking how tho hospital is to get milk ; on Sundays, experience having proved, that it is essential in order to provido puro milk in good condition, that two deliveries should bo mado daily.