A TRAIN FERRY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20097, 28 November 1930, Page 21

A TRAIN FERRY.

J CO-ORDINATING TRANSPORT | MR L. C. WALKER'S ADVOCACY. Supporting his arguments with numerous charts and tho quotation of statistics, Mr L. C. Walker addressed members of the Transport Committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Com mcrce last evening on the desirability of instituting a train ferry service between Wellington and Lyttelton. Mr A. O. Wilkinson, acting presi dent, occupied the chair. He said the Chamber could not commit itself on the subject of a train ferry, but members were interested in the matter, to a study of winch Mr V\ alker had devoted some attention. Transport in New Zealand cost nearly a week, said Mr Walker. Une of the uios. tru.tful sources of economy would be co-ordinution 01 existing services, and a train terry was a first essential. whoever ran the railways was up against many difficulties, owuy to tiie sliort hauls. He hau gone into tiie possibilities of the oi pig products, but soon realised that owing to transport difficulties there were many obstacle;, in the way of building up a big uusiness. It was a question of freights. Between the Dominion and Britain the expenditure on freights annually was about £4,500,000. Rationalisation could be effectively applied there. What was needed was a concentration of transport. If large liners were loaded and unloaded at Wellington and served by a train ferry troni the South Island, millions of pounds could be saved. He believed that produce could be taken Home in giant liners at a speed of 20 knots, and a cost of 7s 6d per ton. Different cargoes required a variety of temperatures but ideal conditions could not be attained with a host of small vessels The freezing of meat would be revo- : lutionised shortly. a development ! ■which would greatly benefit the Dominion. The tissue was not broken or ruptured with sharp freezing, which waa in vogua in America.

Effective Marketing. To market effectively New Zealand's products at Home, bigger nnd better boats were necessary. Tf these were available many waterside problems would be solved. The cargo could be loaded on to big liners in large containers, and other improvements to handling could be effected. Canter-bui-v wajs dependent on cheap freight, and unless transport improvements showed such a tendency, they belied their name. A train ferry would be a means of economy. lie had in mind for the purpose a boat 50 feet longer than the Wnhjne. w : th six tracks abreast totalling 2000 fe»t. and means of tilting to be level with the wharf, would have electric machinery for lifting up her bow het own capstans, hvdraulie securing of the trucks to her deck and Diesel engines. A train ferry would develop trade ultimatelv. but before this was apparent, could run to many ports She would be 495 feet long, and have a beam of 60 feet and draught (loaded") of 19 feet. Thus the vessel could trade to the small ports. " produce was concentrated for the Home trade, longer hours could be worked on the wharves at the port favoured. The ferrv could take 'joad* trains on her main deck, and her total capacity would be 2200 tons (trucks 700 tons, net load 1000 tons, stores and water 200 tons, oil 300 tons). The boat would not be dependent on whart labour and, having several tracks could do much of her own marshalling He would make bold to say that any concern running a train ferry could make profits with much lower freights than those ruling at present. Railway the worfd over nuffered hy short period per annum during which trucks could be worked Motor transport, if properly organised, would shut down eleven ou x of every twelve railway stations in Canterbury. The average railway locomotive in N <*w Zealand travelled 80 miles in eight hours, and transported 45 tons. A ro search department for transport would be as useful as the Wheat Institute which was an admirable institution. Mrtor lorries and steam trucks, which gave remarkable results. were now being made, and the focusing of on principal stations could be done by means of road trains of 50 tons. At these stations there should be silos and all equipment for handling goods. The boat lie had mentioned could cover 1690 knots a week, and could move 14.000 tons in that period, earning in freights £6600. Running half

full, she could earn £3300 per week. The traffic throughout Canterbury would have to be reorganised on. a. lower freight basis. Larger Farms. Major farms, with up-to-date equipment, were necessary and possible under modern conditions. l''odder could be converted into ensilage, and used at the time it was required. Sheep and dairy production could be increased. He believed that there was a potential market for fodder grains in the North Island worth millions of pounds, but its exploitation was not possible with present freight costs. Before millions more were spent on hydro-electric development, a thorough investigation should be made of the possibilities of other sources of power Canterbury had a big future as an industrial province, and a train ferry would bo invaluable for giving its products the outlet. Mr Wilkinson said wonderful development had alreadv taken P'ace in the last 60 or 70 rears in hvdroelertrioity ronding. and railways Such a scheme as Mi Walker had suggested might be far ahead of the reqijirements of New Zealr-nri at present Mr Walker said not manv parts ot the world had better ferry steamers than those running between Wellington and Lvttelton. It was not difficult to absorb immigrants, and the F.mpire would he more prosperous to-dnv immigration had not been stepped, tremendous revolution was taking n^j p in agriculture throughout the world So strong was the competition the Dominion now fared thnt the country was in a dangerous position The trnr tor had made the world Some of the best brains in the countrv should consider immigration, which would place people in properly equip ned industries. It was an error to suppose that the Dominion's civilisation could be maintained on tlie pas toral industry alone. In replv to Mr. W. Bottrell. the sneaker said that on vc.v long runs the train ferry would be comparatively inefficient. Mr C. P. Agpr said the insulated trucks would not be suitable for holding perishable produce for many hours at a time. Mr Walker «nid rnfri"erntin"eers had told him the trucks would be quite safe.