RAILWAY RESTRICTIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 275, 16 August 1919, Page 6

RAILWAY RESTRICTIONS

TELEGRAMS TO PRIME MINISTER.

Rv Telegraph—Press Association. Taihape, August 15. The following telegram has Keen sent by Mr. R. W. cimith, M.J\. to the Prime Jiinister:—"Another case has coin© under notico of tlie Railway Department -refusing io rail sufficient timber to provide back cargo for a ship bringing coal from Australia. This is the fourth ease of the kind.- 1 respectfully point out that many Australian timber brokers contract on an advance- for New Zealand timbers, then C?ll on forward delivery to Australian consumers. To ensure the fulfilment of their undertaking with millers and consumers they charter vessels..and bring coal as back loading. It is obvious, therefore, that, it is solely .timber they, cater for, and if the Department refuses to rail timber to load the vessels they will cease tending Ihcm. As you know, tinjber is the only product that New Zealand can supply.'Jn sufficient quantities to back load vessel's bringing coal from Australia.. If this insane policy is.continued, shipping will be -diverted elsewhere, andalv solutely lost to the Dominion. Ls it any wonder that coal supplies are not inoreasing as they should? Please give this very impnrtant matter your personal and immediate attention."

The Mayor of Oliakune has also ad-, dressed the following telegram t<. the Prime Minister:—"l consider it light to' apprise you of the serious position ex-yecte-d to arise at an early dab.regarding unemployment, owing' to thv' railway restrictions. '. The sawmills a re_ expected •fo close-down .at the end of 111 is month.: This will..throw six hundred men out of employment, with dependants represent.-, ing two thousand people. The district ismainly dependent nil the milling industry, and re>t>i rued ?old icrs daily inquiring for work will greatly aggravate the situation. Understand the Government has dccided to provide for such extreme contingencies by making., disbursements for neocs'ary iniblie works to afford employment. Will such an application from my council'be entertained?"