THE TRAIN SERVICE REDUCTIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 238, 2 July 1919, Page 8

THE TRAIN SERVICE REDUCTIONS

STATEMENT BV THE MINISTER NO HOPE OF IMMEDIATE RELIEF By Telceraoli—Press Association. Auckland, July 1. Xlu3 Minister for Railways litis sent the following telegram to Air. (J. J. Purr, M.P., in reply to » communication regarding the train service miuctions;— "It is impossible' to «>y wiiwi Hie ordinary service can be resumed, and there is only about a week's supply of coal, viz., about hvo thousand tons on normal running, in sight for the next month. This situation will 'undoubtedly .bo relieved when the Australian strike is over, but relief cannot be expected immediately, as ships have, first to go from New Zealand to Newcastle. The epidemic is «lso a cnuso of much delay, especially if coal boats on arrival hero have to undergo quarantine. As you are probably aware, the Kaittyia lias been in Newcastle a. week or more, and.has not started loading yet. She should 'by this time have been' here, and y her cargo of coal discharged. I can assure you that the time-table will be resumed at the earliest possible moment, but there is hardly any hope of getting any alleviation until August. We are trying lo reduce our ordinary, consumption of 5000 tons of coal to half that amount."

REASONS FOR THE DRASTIC CUT MINISTER'S EXPLANATION. The reasons for the drastic cut in the railway services of the Dominion were given by the Hon. T. M. Wilted at . a public meeting at Lower Hutt last evening, Mr. Wilford said that he had that day received a letter from the Minister of Railways (Hon. W. H. Herries) setting forth the reasons for tho restrictions. They wero as follow:— (1) The weekly consumption cf coal by tire Railway Department in the Dominion amounted to 5000 tons. (2) At date.there was sufficient coal in stock to last between- nine or ten days. (3) The coal in sight for delivery up to the second week in August was 1K:00 tons. | (4) It was hoped that the drastic curtailment would reduce tho consumption by at least half, 'and preferably by 2000 tons a week. ) (5) The object in cutting out the expresses was to reduce train mileage. Tho Department proposed to run inly one train to serve both through and wayside passengers, and carrying foodstuffs and perishable goods to all stations. (li) The shortago of coal is mainly due to the strike-and epidemic in Australia. When the strike ended no immediate relief could be expected, as ships had to be sent over there, and on their return quarantine regulations would have to be complied with. (7) The Government was doing its utmost to obtain ships and coal. The above, said, Mr. Wilford, was, lie believed, a true position of affairs. OPINION IN COMMERCIAL CIRCLES By TeleEraph—Press Association. Auckland, July 1. . The Chamber of Commerce considered tke 'curtailment of tho railway service iii '■iiinera yesterday. Discussing the niatler to-day, the president stated thai while business men of the city were willins to comply with every. restriction dictated by absolute necessity, the' curt-art-m.ent of the (services had been so drastic olid sudden fliat there was a feeling that tho necessity for such severe measures was not yet absolutely proved. There was also a strong opinion in commercial circles that in many directions tho coal consumption couvd have been cut down so as to have made the limitation of carriage of goods less severe, .such as supplies that are being conserved for the pence illuminations, the lighting -of 11kcity, and so on. While merchants and traders were, quite prepared to be loyal to the Government in any genuine embarrassment, the effect of 1 he restrictions threatened to be so serious that it was desirable that the /business community should be supplied with (he fullest possible information as to the circumstances compelling Hie present action of the Railway Department. Already some firms were contemplating the possibility of having to suspend their packing and warehouse staffs.