THE RAILWAY SERVICE CURTAILMENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 244, 9 July 1919, Page 7

THE RAILWAY SERVICE CURTAILMENT

A PROTEST FROM PETONE. Referring to the question of the coal shortage at a public meeting at J'etone lagt evening, Mr. J. Kerr said that it lind seemed a remarkable thing to him Hint such a drastic curtailment of the railway services had been made. Ho had lived for many • years on the West Coast, and ho was fully conversant with most mntlers pertaining to coalmining there. A statement had been published giving (ho output of coal for the Weslport mines for the month of .'lime as -10,000 tons. Speaking from experience, he would say that the output from the Greymouth mines would be in the neighbourhood of 20,000 tons a month. That gave them a total output of CO.OCO tons for the West Coast mines for the month. In view of the recent statement made by the Minister of Railways that 5000 tons of coal wero required each week to maintain a full railway service, it seemed remarkable that the Government could not commandeer or in some way secure the 20,0Cfl tons a month required out of the approximate amount of GO.OOO tons produced at the present time. Several others present spoke in support of Mr. Kbit's statements, and the following motion moved -by Mr. Ken- was carried unanimously.— '1 hat this meeting urges upon the Government to reconsider the question of the. curtailment of the railway service, and would like to point out that in view of tha fact that the West Coast, mines are producing over 15,000 tons of coal weekly, the- Government should have first claim on the SCOO tons weekly required for keeping the railways of the country running a full service for tho welfare nnd prosperity of tho Dominion." Mr. Kerr said he'thought that some restriction could be made.in the steamer services. It was unfair that the railway services should bo so drastically cut down and the steamer services be maintained in full. A largo amount of coal was consumed on tho Wcllingtnn-Lyttcl-ion ferry service. He though that some curtailment could be made there.

DAIRY INDUSTRY SUFFERING. Ey Telegraph—Press. Association. Hamilton, July- S. The dairy industry is suffering through tho railway restrictions on materials needed for extensions and repairs. Numerous factories are held up, and tho result is likely to seriously disorganise next season's business. The companies have, at the suggestion of Mr. J. A. Young, M.P.. offered to lend the Department sufficient coal for the advantage of their urgent -requirements. Mr. Young has telegraphed to the Minister of Railways urging that an effort bo made to carry essentials, and stating, "as presumably tho coal position on the Auckland section lias improved during the past fortyeiirht hoiirs--as evidenced by the fact ,that a consignee at, Hamilton received on Friday fivo tons of beer, which one could hardly credit the Department had authorised to bo scheduled as absolutely essential, unless the coal stocks had improved—are you or Cabinet powerless to insist upon urgently-required homebuilding materials, boots, leather, clothing, blankets, and dairy factory requirements being classed as equally essential to the well-being 'of the community as beer. A few more days of the present policy and unemployment will be. widefiliread." Mr. Young also telegraphed to the Actinß-Prirce -Minister, urging Cabinet to devise means to assist the Department tn meet urgent transport facilities for dairy companies, declaring, "tho fact that a Hamilton consignee received five tons of be.er on Friday is incensing the public. Early action by Cabinet is imperative."