MR. SAWERS GIVES A DENIAL.

Chronicle (Levin), 28 March 1947, Page 5

MR. SAWERS GIVES A DENIAL.

WELLINGTON, March 27. Referring to Mr. Blyth 's statement, IMr. Sawers, General Manager of Rail ways, stated that iTr. Blyth was not in a position to coniment 011 the position as a whole. Mr. Sawers said the difticulties conf ronting tlie various interests, with particular reference to the Wellington area, were fully and frankly discussed at tlie recent meeting in Wellington to which Mr. Blyth had re ferred. Instances could be given where the diflficulties, princijially the shortage of labour, had caused inconvenience to the railways and prevented them from having a full supply of wagons avail able for their clicnts. In one case alone through a combination of circumstances for which tlie consignees could not be held responsible, as many as 100 wagons were lost to the department for a period of two days through the inabilitv ot the firin concerned to cope with the e5x ceptional circumstances. That example was being reyieated in varying degree 011 a snialler scale from time to time and at various stations throughout the railwav system.

Mr. Sawers said the railways were working a seven-day week and the carriers only a forty-honr five-day week and it was that lag in •j.heha.rge which was contributing in nt ?n:all measure to the diificulties with which the railways were conf'ronted in maintaining a regular supply of wagons for loading "On hehalf of the men employed ih the railways service, I must enter ah empnatic protest ..against tvir. Hiyth's statement that the national transport system is on the verge of eollapse," said Mr. Sawers. ' ' There is not much evidence of eollapse in an organisation which is handling a greater tonnage than ever "before." "I am well aware of the long houfs which the operating staif of the depart ment are working in coping with traflfre requirements but destructive statemehts such as Mr. Blvth's will not solve the diflficulties which face the various part'of Jhe transport industry, " aded Mr Sawers. ' ' Appreciation of the difficul ties of the other ehap and an honest 'hn deavour to do the best one can, is of. much greater assistance in tlyese diffi. c'ult times than an exaggerated state-. ment eouchcd in general terms. "