SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 428, 10 February 1909, Page 8

SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS.

;. "COMPELLED TO REDUCE .HANDS;" .In 'connection with the .alleged 1 shortage of railway ; trucks at -the present time, , Mr. J. P.; Luke, M.P., has been moved,to send, the following ..telegram; to.' the. Minister for Railways. (Hon! J. A.:Millar) :—"The scarcity of- trucks. on the railway service is unquestioned. -It is important, if funds will permit, that orders, for manufacturing additional-ones should b,e 'given the' Dominion's .workshops, thus facilitating the ecohomi'-il manipulation' of the country's'commerce, iv.id giving'muohneeded employment-to-competent workmen."- : To this communication .Mr. -Millar. : replied as f0110w5:—...,.: . :.' ■"■•'".'-''■■■ '''-.'•

"In replyi to your wire- re -shortage of. trucks, the trouble is that'it is impossible; whore four or five* vessels come' in laden with ooftl, to have sufficient trucks all going at onco. The grain seasonbeing now> on'requires a Jarge.number of.trucks, to ;cope with' that, business. . At the present- we have. 300 trucks building, and I,am unable to put any more in hand, as the vote will only provide for that quantity. I' should be; only too pleased if-it were possible to put on hands, but . 1- have, been compelled to reduce i the casual hands, who were temporarily employed for.special work, the; Act of last session, mak-. ing all 6asual hands of five years' continuous' service permanent has so' increased the per-' manont staff that they are fully able to cope .with all the railway work without-extra'as-sistance." '■;■-■■< .'. ■ : ■ -~ . ■'.. ~;j' :,:,''■'.■