THE RAILWAY-CUT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 264, 4 August 1919, Page 6

THE RAILWAY-CUT

PALMERSTON AND THE PROPOSED SPECIAL COMMITTEES. By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent. Palmerston North, August 3. The latest phase of the railway curtailment was discussed at r.' 'special meeting of. tho Council of the Palmerston North Chamber of Conimerco on Saturday.

The president (Mr. L. H. Collinson) said that tho meeting had been 'called in consequenco of tho following telegram winch he had received from the General Manager of Railways:—"lt is proposed to set up a committee in Wellington to assist the Department in endeavouring to provide for urgent goods not being carried at present, on similar lines to the Christchurch committee. If your chamber is disposed to co-operate' with the Wellington chamber, I shall be glad if' you will communicate with that body and arrange for representation." The president explained that tho Wellington Chamber desired to co-operato with the Wairarapa and Manawntu. Mr. J. 4. Nash, M.P.. reported that he had received a telegram from Mr. M'Villy regarding tho carriage of essential goods, with special reference to stud stock. The text of the telegram was as follows:—"It'will .not be possible for a few; days to say to what extent the restrictions on passenger business will enable us to relax in respect of the carriage of goods, but the conveyance of dairy and stud cattle will have 'first consideration wlipn the position can bo gauged." Arising out of the General Manager's suggestion, a committee of two—the president and Mr. T. It. Hodder-was set tip to confer with the Wellington Chamber, which hody it was decided to communicate with for further information. The committee was instructed to nrrango to meet tho business men of Palmerston North on Tuesday to discuss the railway requirements of \ the various industries and businesses with a view to tabulating suggestions as to how the goods schedule should be extended with regard to preferential treatment of certain classes of freight. There was a unanimity of opinion among members (hat the claim for consideration of butter must 1)3 homo'in mind, especially as dairying' was tho backbono of the country.' Several instances were given where serious loss and hardship were being caused owing to the refusal of the Department to carry stock. It was agreed that catering for stock sales by the .railways was not essential at the present juncture. The persistence of the Department with regard to the carriage of beer to the exclusion of essential articles again came in for severe condemnation. Ml Hodder stated that the case at Hamilton cited in tho newspapers was monstrous. Unless some .relief was afforded in the matter of timber supnlies the erection of the new Girls' . High School would lie held up. It was informally agreed that tho revision of the schedule should include the carriage of timber (not for stock) for immediate requirements, and .cement.;