LEEWAY OF WAR YEARS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 15, 13 October 1919, Page 4

LEEWAY OF WAR YEARS

HARD TO RECOVER

RAILWAY DIFFICULTIES

SHORTAGE OF MAN POWER

The Minister of Railways (Mr. MasEey) made soine remarks of general interest replying to a Christchurch deputation 1 on Saturday, which had asked for iiuurovements in the Christchurch-Lyttel-ton service. Mr. Massey said that 110 was new to tho railwav business. As they were all aware ho liatf a great deal to learn, and he did not know whether lie would havo the portfolio long enough to learn all that wns necessary. Mr. Holland: The papers say you are going to stick to it for'several years. Mr. Massey: "You must not take that too literally." He added that he fully realised the difficulties there were in the way to improving the Christchurch-Lyt-telton service, but the deputation must not forget that other important centres also had their difficulties. He had spent four hours the previous night listening to complaints and' suggestions about tho railways, and he would not forget that for a long time. There wns, for instance, Wellington with its two railway stations, which made the difficulties there very, great. Something would have to be done at Wellington. It could not be postponed much longer. Even Auckland could noE go on very much longer with the present accommodation. so great was the traffic passing , over the lines there. The fact of the matter was that the Dominion was growing, and that they had not been able to make many improvements during the war. The Government were appropriating a very largo sum of money this year for improvements, and while it would no doubt be a splendid thing to carrv out Mr. Hiley's scheme, everyone must realise that that could not bo done in a short time.' The great difficulty at present was labour. When our inen were away, at the front'he sometimes thought that there might bo difficulty in finding them employment when they came back, but he thought the Domin-' ion could now do with many more men than it had at present. In due course, therefore, a -scheme of immigration would have to be,put into operation, but that oottld not be done right away. He would take the opportunity at the beginning of the week of discussing this matter with tlie General Manager of Railwavs. The Government. ■would!, do the best it- possibly could to remedy (the difficulties as soon as possible.