SAWMILLERS' COMPLAINTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 73, 19 December 1907, Page 9

SAWMILLERS' COMPLAINTS.

; HAMPERED ON THE RAILWAYS. ■. . A-deputation representing tho sawmillprs' of tho Upper Rangitikei district waited on tho Premier on Tuesday at Taihapo. ■ Mr. Remington, M.P., who mtroducod tho members, said '• they wished to complain of the ' hardships imposed on tho sawmilling industry generally by tho rigid application of tlio regulations relating to the carriage of timber oa the railways, and in the case of the local sawinillers to' ask if it was possible to have' a ohango in tho trafiio managership in tho Wanganui district.

Mr. H. B. Bennett, of Taihape, said. tho. sawmillors wero being harassed beyond'all reason by the railway officials in the mattor of minor regulations. The officor at "Wanganui would not deal with them at all. It Had been intended that eawmillers from all 6ver tho Dominion should be' present,, but this was impossiblo, but if necessary to. bring about reform, >a "national" deputation .would interview the Premier later at 'Wellington.' He wished to say straight out that a chango' was wanted in. tho innnngcment of tho Wanganui district. Mr. F. M. Spurdjo (Wanganui) complained of tho mothods-; of'charging domurmgos on timber trucks, which, ho said, reflected un-. fnirly on tho consigneo. After' remarks by further speakers, tho Premier, in reply, expressed ploasuro at having had an opportunity of hearing theso complaints, and said he would. inquire into tho specific case stated. He wild do this.in fairness to an officer who had boon named. As to tho question of demurrage, ho had always laid it down that this charge should bo avoided if possible, hut somo auch method was required to hurry up thoso who used tho rolling stock. Unless demurrage was charged, jlicro would be accumulations of waggons at shipping ports and every other place, and the whole supply would bei dislocated. Critics of the Government's railway policy said wo had an over-supply of waggons, but they forgot .that in this country ■ theroj were so many harbours in proportion to its sizo. Unless a supply of waggons were kept to moot , theso . requirements thero would bo trouble. Tho control of the system of supplying waggons was entirely under the head superintendent at "Wellington. There was no desiro to mako rovenuo out of domurrago charges. They woro there to act as a spur for tho release of waggons as soon as possible. Tho Promior promised to obtain particulars of all demurrage charges made during a stated period in tho Wanganui district, and go into tho wholo matter. (Hear, hear.) Tho Premier leaves hero nt 5.45 to-morrow morning by special train. Palmorston will be reached in timo for breakfast, and ho is then timed to arrivo at Feathorston at 12.30 p.m. Ho then has a twelve hours run to Martinborough, whore he opens a bridge. Tin's will be made by motor car.