STOCK BY RAIL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1840, 28 August 1913, Page 3

STOCK BY RAIL.

COMPLAINTS RENEWED. AGAINST RAILWAY DIVISION. A GROWING INDUSTRY. ' Among tho topics discussed in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, was ono of especial interest to country memficrs. It related to the carriage of livo stock on the railways, and many of tho old complaints against the Railway Department wero made again with a now force. Tho discussion arose out of a question tabled by Mr. Nosworthy, but whereas tho question and the Minister's reply were of local application only, the general. question of tlio need for better provision for the carriage of stock was discussed, mainly by North Island members.

Mr.C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont) spoke first of tho importance of stock-raising to New Zealand as ono of our most productive national pursuits. Transport, of cattle was likewise important, and yet the Railway Department still refused tj improve the methods of handling stcck. On long journeys fat cattle wero frequently deteriorated considerably in value by damage caused to the animals in transit. . i\lr. G. V. l'earco (Patea) said the general methods observed in handling cattlo carried on the railways needed reviewing. Heavy fat cattle being railed from Wellington or Taranaki to Auckland could not remain on their legs in the trucks for tho whole journey. Indeed, it was practically impossible for the cattlo to do so. Shippers would willingly pay two or threo shillings a head moro to have the cattle unloaded at a half-way station, say Taumarunui, and there served with water, and perhaps a little hay. The present treatment of animals on this run was positive cruclty, and with the growth of tho export trade from Auckland to Vancouver this carriage of. cattle to Auckland would increase. Mr.' J. H. Bradney (Auckland West) 'supported the statement that stock wero frequently treated cruelly by the Government Itailway Department, and that if a private carrier did this lie would be prosecuted for cruelty. A Crowing. Business. Mr. D. Buick (Palmerston) said he would like to see some method adopted by which fat cattlei could •bo landed at their journey's end as speedily as possible. The fat stock-raising business was growing at an amazing rate, and t.he traffic in it was now very heavy. He would like to see the Department run trucks' of live stock as speedily as possible, at night or at somo time when this could be most easily done. There was great room for improvement, and ho would like to see some, improvement made. ■

Sir Walter Buchanan said that while no.country was so dependent on stockraising as was New Zealand, the minimum! of care was bestowed upon stock by; tho Government railways. Our trains were handled without any practical regard to whether thero were in the trains any trucks containing live stock, and tho result was that stock wero frequently condemned at the seaboard as unlit for export. Other matters connected with tho carriago of live stock had been brought under tho notice of tho Department, but without any result. Nowadays it was the live stock trade that kept tho plough going in the country, for grain-growing had declined of late, years.

Mr. 0. J. H. Okey (Taranaki) said he was sure we wero not getting tho best service from our railways in tho carriage of stock, which was ,of increasing importanco now with the growth of the export trade from Auckland to Vancouver. .Ho approved of tho suggestion that stock should be fed and rested at Taumarunui. He urged that thero was no need to delay the settlement of the questions involved until the arl'ival of the new General Manager, who need not be expected to know all about the carriage of stock for some years.

Mr.' F. H. Smith (Waitaki) said there was no doubt that the sudden stopping and starting of trains, which threw tho sheep or cattle to ono end. of tho truck, and bruised and injured them, was going on altogether unuecessarily.

Mr. W. Nosworthy (Ashburton) spoke of tho necessity for improved facilities for handling stock shipped from the North Island to South Canterbury.

THE MINISTER REPLIES,

COMPLAINTS THAT ARE SAVED UP. . The Hoii. W. H. Herries, Minister for Railways, said the trouble the Department encountered was that a lot of complaints Wore bottled up until there was a meeting of the Farmers'' Union or the Agricultural Association, and then tho complaints all came out at once. He would like every person who had a complaint that his cattle had been unduly shunted to make the complaint immediately,- nnd then he (tho Minister) would be able to locate the enginedriver or the guard or the shunter who. was responsible for tho damage to the stock. If members would advise their constituents to make complaints promptly, then' the Railway Department would investigate promptly and punish tho offender if necessary. The Department was anxious to meet tho desires or stock owners. As a farmer ho knew tho difficulty about' carrying live stock, and lie was anxious to meet stock-owners in every way possible. Instructions were issued that trucks containing stock were not to bo unduly shunted, but it was impossible to prevent occasional shunting. In Auckland special stock trains had been put on for the weekly market day, and ho had heard no complaints since the trains wero put on. If stock-owners would at onco give information to tho Department of any laches on the part of officers they would be at once investigated.

Sir Walter Buchanan: I gavo you information about cheese last year aiid nothing was done. I saw the results of damage in London.

Mr. Herrics: I linvo .vet to learn that cheese is livo stack. (Laughter.) As far as I know there have been no complaints about the carriago of checso, but there have been resolutions from the Agricultural and Pastoral Association with regard to insulated trucks for the carriage of dairy produce. I think that applies to butter only, liowever. If tlio honourable gentleman has any complaints to make about the carriage of checso' I shall inquire into them. Of courso the Wairarapa line is a very difficult one to work. Wo have the Wairarapa incline Mr. Sykes: Do away with it. Mr. llcrries: Unfortunately tho Minister' for .Railways can't do away with it. My honourable friend the Minister for Public Works will have something to say about that. Reverting to the carriago of stock on the long run to Auckland from Wanganui and tho West Coast lie said that if owners applied for a special train they could get one. Mr. Wilson said this would mean 160 bullocks at ono time, which was too big a number to collect. Mr.- Herries said it would'not be possible to run a special train for one or two trucks. The question of providing a rest paddock at Ohakuno or Taumaruiiui was enmisg bis Attention, la.

detrain cattle for the night would moan sonio added cost to shippers. Mr. Wilson: Thoy don't mind tliiit. Mr. Herries said he believed it would bo a good arrangement, and iio hoped to bo able to inako a definite statement on the mat-tor this session.