PORT OF LYTTELTON

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3152, 2 August 1917, Page 9

PORT OF LYTTELTON

I AND THE RAILWAY SERVICE. The'annoyance of Christchurch members because of the continued refusal of the Railway Department to restore the .evening train from Lyttelton to Christchurch at 9.45 p.m., was manifested in yfe House of Representatives yesterday. The effect.of. the refusal of the Department is alleged to-be that the waterside, workers will not work overtime. The Railway Department arranged some timo ago to put on a train when it was required for men working overtime on a ship; but the plan appears to be giving no great satisfaction. ■ . Dr. .Thacker asked the Minister of Railways whether his attention liad been drawn to the number of overseas and local ships held up because of the shutting, up of the port at 6 o'clock. ".; ;; Mr.'Harries: A train will be provided whenever it is required. ■ _ \ Mr. Isitt: That is not a bit of good when the men won't work. Mr. Hemes: If the honourable member will talk to the men instead of \to the Minister of Railways it would be much better. . ■ Mr. Isitt: You are just trifling with us. Mr. Hemes': The train will run at. the time required. There is no objection to this arrangement' "from the shipping companies or anybody else except the waterside workers.. If they will not work, that is not the Minister, s tault. . . . ■We are prepared to provide a tram .to take the waterside .workers back to their homes when they, finish ~w ol* -, , iou can't expect us to-do more than that. We-expect yon-to do-very much /more.