RAILWAY COAL STOCKS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 263, 2 August 1919, Page 6

RAILWAY COAL STOCKS

MR. SEMPLE MAKES INQUIRIES,

Mr. R. Semple, M.I 1 ., staled yesterday that he had ueeu mating' inquiries re--gaming the quantity of coat held by the Kuihvay ilepai'tmcut between Wellington and Frantton Junction, "and has received the following information from very reliable quarters:—At l'aekakariki there is plenty of coal. At Palinerstoi. North,, the yard is full up, and a few days ugo s"ent word asking where the extra coal that was coming was to be stored; they were told to put it anywhere. At Cross Creek junction the yard is full up. At Marion Junction and Taihape- tne same conditions wet* reported, There ore' at least HOOO tons in the Wellington bins and yards. Mr. tiemple stated, that he had a good deal of confidence- in the statements he had received; in fnct, he had been of the opinion all along that there was no need for tho dislocation of the railway service. Mr. Semple stated that if these supplies were so eoiuplete, the inference was that the other places were well stocked. In his opinion the Government was playing some. double-faced game, and tho public should demand an immediato inquiry into the alleged shortage of coal and the condition of the Now Zealand railway rolling-stock. He was positive that there was no justification for the present chaotic state of affairs, and the people should know who was to blame.