RAILWAY POLICY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 584, 12 August 1909, Page 6

RAILWAY POLICY.

REMARKS BY THE HON. J. A. MILLAR. "DOING A GREAT DEAL TOO MUCH. - ' IBy Teletraph.—Prcßa Association.! Chrlstchurch, August ]]. A deputation waited on the Hon, J. A. Millar to-day with a request that the freight on honey and beeswax should be brought more into line with the freights fixed to give encouragement to fruit-growers, dairymen, and oheese. manufacturers. The Minister' said he feared that the fact.of a low rate being made for one. item . prompted suggestions that the rates on other items, should 'also be lowered.. It was rather difficult, to please all people., Some said that' the railways should be made to pay, others that they should be .used to encourage, settlement and to cheapen products by means of cheap rates. He could not make any. promise that the reduction asked for would be made, but he would look into the matter on his return to Wellington, and would see what could Ve done. He quite recognised the'growing importance of the industry, and he would do what he could to assist it.

Another deputation asked that improved regulations should be made in connection with the .running of the Springfield trains. The Minister said that there were many lines in exactly 'the same position. He was icoming to the conclusion that tho Department was doing a great deal too much in that respect. The Department in New Zealand ,did what was not done in any other country that he knew of. It received goods for dispatch to every outlying station. In most of these cases 'the trade 'only warranted goods being sent twice or even once a week. At present it was necessary to have a timetable, and the train had to stop at a station whether there was'any necessity for it or not. ■ There .were hundreds of stations where he was satisfied trade did. not justify stoppage more than twice a week asifar.as goo as were concerned, and trucks were left'ving useless for two or three days. In this Tase, however, he would make inquiries, and on lis return to Wellington would see if an improvement could not be made.