ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 667, 18 November 1909, Page 5

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

WELLINGTON RAILWAY STATION; Answers to. questions were circulated yesterday. The following are some of tho principal replies:— .',-.-. The site of the new Wellington railway.stamust depend largely on the works that are in progress in connection with tho duplication of tho Butt line, tho. general reorgani- . sation scheme under consideration as a result of the acquisition of the Manawatu railway, and the improvement works that are being carried out in connection with the Government railways. Preliminary surveys in connection with the reorganisation have only recently been 'undertaken, and in connection therewith tho site for tho. station, has only. tentatively been considered, but the. Ultimate decision cannot be made in the meantime. . THE>IANAWATU LINE. There is no ' present intention of duplicating the Manawatu lino for any portion of :its distance. When - the necessity for undertaking, such a work arises tie matter of making a survey for tho purpose of determining which would be the better routo for the duplication' will be given full consideration. ~.,.;." >■■'*:■' RAILWAY EMPLOYEES. :'J-It has in the past .been the invariable prac-; tice to fill, the percentages in the various classes of railway employees up to'a maximum number. Owing, however, to the financial stringency, and the fact that it has been necessary to make retrenchment in the Public Service, it was decided that no. promotions would be made in the railway service during the current year, except to fill .'vacancies ; ..hence the percentage of engine-drivers has not been filled up to tho maximum. Apart from this, the time has arrived when it is quite out of the question to have fully one-half, of the engine-drivers in the .first grade, and re-' ceiving wages up to 12s. 6<L per: day, as'this will necessarily mean that a considerable number of the older men who are in receipt of first-grade pay will bo engaged on unimportant runs or shunting, while men in the second grade are doing'the more important - class of work._ Even at the : present time there are men. in the first. grade running unimportant train-services on branch lines, .and also in yards shunting, and the.Minister for Railways is; of opinion that this practice • cannot", in fairness to the men who' are doing the more important work, be continued. Any alteration that is made must necessarily be in the direction of. obviating this condition of affairs. Ihe Minister cannot assist men with large families who are moving by railway from one employment to another by the issue of family tickets at specially reduced rates, or by the' carriage.of their belongings free of charge, Ihe assistance, it is held, would;involve preferential treatment to a certain section of the community, lead to general dissatis&ers. m ° ng th °' ""*' majority . rf railw °y OTHER REPLIES. ™TK Go J erm ? e ? t has no information in regard, to tie statement of a Dominion IS Tof ■ the ' -ecentlyTppXted ll«Ta° f f 9 , P T me tita ° fined ger Tf wf f ° r th ™te>™S t" shoot* a rantin i her Particulars, are furnished, i n : quiry will :be made. ■;■ ,:J h if conc?ssi , oa °, f free.carriage granted to b"ing b revS deKd ' ° tariff ,L r There'arci no grounds for ,tho supposition closing of tho. Addmgton railway workshops. ' »f™J? rres e t station 'to'-'swimming classes. ?L P? n 101100I 01100 , 1 ? - IS > U to ■*»&** thl Educalion Boards. About ,6240 was distributed last Itjs not'proposed to proceed with the survey ot the road over the Euahine Ranges between JNorsewoodand Apih for some time, owing to the lact that many settlers who at present Have no proper access to their holdings are entitled to consideration before expenditure can bo incurred on roads of this description. -All reasonable assistance is extended to cooperative 'workmen throughout the Dominion in/the way of providing; suitable tent or house accommodation, and, usually,' timber is supplied, them at a reduced rate for establishing their camps, flooring tents, etc.' ''..-.

nyi? l- ? 8 bridges are.required.,over..the-.iTahga-?Sft al }, $ ly . el - ? he upper: one is how- : iri'course of erection, and the question of making provision for. one or both the remaining bridges-will receive when the Public Works Estimates for the current year are being dealt with. ■ ■-.'; • •.: - ■ • "•':-' ' "• ■■-."i'<'.-. ■

.Plans and'estimates are being prepared 1 for a suitable bath building at Tokaanu, which will be ready for consideration when the Estimates are being arranged.'Tho great popularity of Tokaanu as a resort, especially for anglers, is fully recognised; and nothing the Government can do; with the means at its disposal, to assist in developing that centre will be left undone.