THE RAILWAY CUT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 279, 21 August 1919, Page 6

THE RAILWAY CUT

Sir,—Since the above eume into operation, I have been compelled to visit nil the principal towns in tho southern part of this island, and have been amazed at finding that although our railways are shutting out passengers and a large percentage of goods, including our natural products, tliat practically all B"3 and clcctric services generated by steam coal lira running at: normal! 1 . Is it considered by tho authorities necessary to carry passengers in tho towns by tramcar to visit picture shows, display the wares of shopkeepers at night by electric light or gus, <uid otherwise use up titeam coal., and at the same time compel our railways to Mock Irado and industry by refusing lo carry building requisites, machinery, slock, timber, hides, and other commodities nei-e.-sary to both town and country? Many others beside myself are curious to have the explanation. Is it because the .Minister of Coal has a bigger pull and lnoro go than tha man ivlio runs the railways, or is the i'ormc-r endeavouring to wake political capital by embarrassing the other fellow's Department!' Are tho rest of the (,'abinet asleep, or are they afraid lo inconvenience the users of tho luxuries mentioned by insisting ou tho most necessary oases having precedence whore coal is concerned. I trust, Sir, that you will endeavour to ram into thu head l ) of the numb-skull crowd who are controlling this country Hie neuessifcy of practising that "efficiency" so much talked of by them during the war years, and thus prevent the threatened dosing of industries and widespread unemployment and loss.—l am, etc., A SUFFERER.