THE RAILWAY CUT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 240, 4 July 1919, Page 8

THE RAILWAY CUT

DEPUTATION TO GENERAL MANAGER

i SOME RELAXATIONS PROMISED

PROTESTS FROM VARIOUS QUARTERS

The committee, appointed by tho conference of local bodies and chambers of commerce to corner with the Railway Department regarding difficulties arising out. of the new regulations waited on tho General Manager of Railways (Mr. R. W. M'Villy) yesterday morning, and pointed out which would be experienced, particularly in regard to tho provision which prevented the carriage of'certain commodities except those consigned,direct to fanners. Wife reforence to grain, seeds, manures, and various other supplies,; it was urged that the restrictions would praotioa,lly put the up-coun-try, merchants out of business, ajid would 6erve no useful purpose, inasmuch as they ivould mean a much larger number of smaller consignments, and no decrease in the total bulk to be carried. In reply, Mr. iTVilly agreed to relax the/provisions regarding graiu and seeds on the etriot condition that all consignors were careful to see that only reasonablo and normal, quantities were sent forward .to , their various clients. Any breach of this condition would mean in all probability a reversion to the original regulations. Mr. M'Villy refused to make any conoession in regard to fertilisers. The committeo informed Mr. M'Villy that at this season of the year cement .was largely used by fanners in concreting cowyards, cto, Unless tho Railway Department agreed, to carry cement it was obvious that the construction of a number'of worka in the country would have to cease.

' Mr. MTilly snid it was impossiblq to carry cement in auy. circumstances, just now, but he hoped to be able to renew the position within the course o? a week or So. He also indicated thnt iu cases where urgent and necessary goods were not provided for in the preferential list consignors could state the position to Mr. Bevan, of the Railway. Department, and if the situation warranted it exceptions would be made. The deputation assured Mr. M'Villy that it appreciated to tho fullest extent

the difficulties under which tho Department was labouring owing to the coal crisis, and stated that, through its various organisations, it would do everything possible to assist tho Department'. At i o'clock in the afternoon a meeting of delegates of chambers of commerce aiid-other bodies was held in tho Domin-

ion Farmers' Institute, Mr. A. Leigh. : . Hurit presiding over an attendance of between 10 and 50 business men and trade representatives. 'The position as explained to the deputation, by Mr. M'Villy -was laid before the meeting, and tho following resolution was;passed:"That this meeting pledge.* itself-to do all in its power to assist tlie railway authorities in the present coal crisis,.' and undertakes to ' prevent, . wherever possible, the carriage of unnecessary goods i and that the various organisations represented be advised accordingly." ~ The question of the carriage of beer, wines, and spirits was then considered, and the following motion was proposed by Mr. H. Baldwin: "That this meeting, representative of all the business interests of tho citf and exeoittive officers of New Zealand business associations, enter a. most emphatio protest against the action of the New Zealand Railways in removing all restrictions on the carriage on the . railways of beer, wines, and spirits, anu urges that the restrictions be immediately Teimposed, in view of the urgent requirements oh tho country for absolutely essential goods." . Mr. Careon seconded the resolution, ■■ which was opposed by Mr. M. Garr, president v of the Wellington Chamber ot Commerce. : . On being put to the vote, however, the motion was declared carried unanimously, • FELT BY THEIJLBING TRADE Tne railway "cut" is already having an effect on the building trade in Wellington, and another week will in all : Mtelihood see several jobs stuck up for itanfc. of , ..material of the kind tho Bailway .Department inds iteelt unable to carry until the coal crisis is over.. A Dominion reporter, seeing no hands engaged on the bnilding of St. Mary of the .Church in Bouloott Street, found ' that; owing to the railway refusing to oaft gravel, the building operations had v suspended. Tho church is being almost wholly built of reinforced concrete, with especially heavy foundations •of > concrete for the double spires that are. to , form the two front anglea of the qdifico. River gravel (from the bed of the; Hutt-River) is considered tho best shingles of the kind for the work, bub as.-it cannot.bo carried by rail, it is not likely, that work will continue, as cartage (by road from the Hutt) would be extremely expensive, even if carried by •motor .lorries. Most of the good concrete, .workers use the Hutt River gravel, (mi 1 all work in the city depending on daily .supplies from that quarter will . have immediately come to a halt. With timber and gravol on the proliilist, those concerned in the buildving trade all round Wellington are in for an anxious time for some timo to . come: . : ■

EFFECTS OF CURTAILMENT . " PALMEESTON NOETH A BUSY ■ ...... CBNTBE. r*. ißy Telegraph—Special Correspondent, (~ ■'".'■ Palmerston North, July 3. [I ..The ourtailment of trains is having I the immediate effect of inaking_ Palmeri /ston North a very busy town, 'ns it is now V the centre of airivnl and departure of .'. most of the train 6, and last evening the v.-: porters ■ in • the station were hard at : work sorting out luggage, etc., until ■ after midnight. . A rumour haa gained currency that a number- of casual men wero being put r off under instructions from the head of- ' nee. It is quite true that it was the intention to do so, but it has been found absolutely necessary to keep the staff-full-handed in order to cope with the extra work involved by the change, owing to the number ot stop-over passenKors for Now Plymouth and tho Main Trunk line who put in the night in PalmoTston North. Most of the hotels, especially those in the vicinity of tho railway station, are being taxed to their utmost limit. It is pointed out that in the past the trains were manned from Thorndon, whereas undor the new arrangements train crows have to bo providod by Palmereton North, and this causes more skilled men to be required here. .' ALLEGED ANOMALIES IN ■" ■■ ■ . SCHEDULE. By Telegraph.—Prena Association. PalnSerston North, July 3. The Palmorston North Chamber of Commerco to-day disoussed the question of. the reduced railway service. Several anomalies in schedule of goods permitted to be carried wexo commented on. The meeting adopted a motion pointing out that the drastio action by the Government would seriously disorganise industries and commerco in the country, especially in inland towns, and asking that the schedule be revieed to include euoh. necessary things aa blankets, flannel Roods, winter underclothing, tiles, seeds for planting, and cattle drenohes; and to facilitate the necessary goods being consigned to storekeepers for distribution amongst settlers; that the carriage- of liauor is not essential. The chamber also passed a motioruviewing with serious concern the proposal to materially increase railway freights. . PROTESTS AGAINST CAKIITAGE OF LIQUOR. By Telograoh— Press Association. Wanganui, July 3. ■ The president of the Wanganui Chnmber of Commerco has telegraphed as follows to Sir James Allen with reference to the railway coal shortage:—"Underr stand freight restrictions amended so vs to permit' the railage of liquor. Considering the extremely serious l 'commercial position due to the non-railage of urgent essentials, including material for soldiers and iworkera' homes, would ask, has the . ■„ reinstatement of liquor freights the approval of Cabinet?" The local branch of the Society of Car-

pentere and Joiners has telegraphed to tho Minister of Railways, pointing out that the prohibition of railage of building material is a. very bbriuus matter to the building trades, and suggesting that tho Minister substitute building ii.aterial for liquor. SOME NAPIER SUGGESTIONS. Napier, July" il. Tho Chamber of Commerce discussed tho curtailment of the traiu service and resolved to urge the Department to carry full loads of goods not on the preseut list for carriage provided the coal con,sumption was not increased. It was also docided to urge business places to opon at 8.30 a.m. and dose at 4.30 p.m. in order to help the situation, DECREASED PASSENGER. TRAFFIC IN CANTERBURY. Chrisfcliurcft, laly 3. Since the curtailment <rf tie train services fiis'passenger traffic in Canterbury has decreased by almost half. The conntry secrkes arc very noticeable in this respect, wliilo the lumber of pcoolo undertaking the lengthened trip to, Dunedin is practically confined to thoso on business. CARRIAGE OF MAILS. Christchurch, July 3. The Canterbury Progress League has stepped into the breach caused by the curtailment of postal services, and started a special motor service this .morning for the carriage of mails- on all routes. The league will maintain a daily service throughout the province. LTTTEI/TON GOODS TRAFFIC TO BE UNRESTRICTED. Christchurch, Jnly 3. The railway traffic manager stated tonight that itt hod been decided to deal with goods traffic to and from Lytlclton without restriction. ARRANGEMENTS FOR CARRIAGE OP LIVE STOCK. Dunedin, July 3. As a result of the conference between the Tailway traffic manager and Uie presideut of the Stock Agents' Association arrangements have been made for the carriage of live stock. The railways will carry for the Burneide market weekly up to 15 trucks of fat sheep and lambs,.and up to 10 trucka of fat cattle for bona-fide sale to butchers only for local consumption, the trucks to be ordered .at least'a week before the sale. If any stock is unsold it must be offered to butchers the following'week. The Department has tho right to reduce the number of trucks carried the following week by the approximate number carried over. The Minister of Railways has informed the Chamber of Commerce that the representations urging that rabbitskins consigned by rabbiters be carried on tlib railways will receive consideration. an appealTto miners Greymouth, July ?.. In view of the fact that "pay" baturday oyery fortnight ia n holiday with coal-minere, the Mayor of Greymouth (Mr. J. D. Lynch) has appealed to the executives of the mirtsrs' unions of the West Coast to work the mines on two "pay" Saturdays in order to assist in the time of stress by providing morb fuel. If the executives of tVj unions agree to the proposal it is estimated that an additional 10,000 tons of coal will be livailablo from the 'Coast mines during the next four weeks, and that if similar action is taken in other mines throughout the Dominion a substantial measure of relief will'ibe afforded, particularly to fellow-workers now unable to secure supThe "Mayor, of Greymouth has the Mayor of Westport to make The proposal to ihe Bnller unions.