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RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK

THE SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS" 1

MR. MASSEY EXPLAINS THE POSITION

The vexed question of the shortage of railway 'trucks with special reference to tho Raetihi branch line and the Ohakune section of the Slain Trunk line was raised in tho House of Representatives yostcrday afternoon by Mr. R. W. Smith (Wnimnrino), who asked tho Prime Minister to state to the House wlmt was to be expected in connection with the supply by thoso businesses which depended upon railway carriage for their existence. Those engaged ill the timber business on tho two lines wero, he said, at their wits' end whether to attempt, to carry on or to close down altogether. It was reugnised that every effort was being made by the officials to allot what trucks wore available, but there were not sufficient for the traffic on the. lines. Nothing seemed to move the head of the Department. Ho wished to_ tell _ the '.Minister that they were heartily tired of l,eing treated in tho way ho had indicated. For years the shortage had been a by-word throughout New Zealand, and things seemed to bo drifting from bad to worst). 'I'hoSe concerned wero tired of the liailway Department, and ho wished to take that opportunity of bringing tho matter before the Minister. He wished l to .know whether tho liailway Department had made any definite arrangements for a supply of railway trucks. Year niter year, when the demand began, they were put on one side and told by the General Manager that ho was making inquiries for trucks in America and elsewhere. If lie could not get tho trucks he should hand the business over to someone who would' At the end of Septem'ber one firm in the region indicated required ten trucks a day. They were ordered every day, and at the end of eight days the firm had received eeven. That was to say, they ordered 80 trucks and received 'seven. ITe had received a telegram Hie day before yesterday saying that things had improved slightly, but they were still 70 trucks short. Another firm was 50 tracks short. Ho had received a letter from a firm in I'arnell, Auckland, asking for help in getting trucks for business purposes. Mr. Massey, replying, said that tho railway wagons were being distributed with regard to the urgency of the purposes for which they were required, and tho perishable nature of the goods to be carried. It was well known that it was impossible to obtain any trucks during tho war, and much leeway still had to bo made up. He was able to repeat the statement that he'made some weeks ago that a contract had boon let to a British firm for 2500 railway trucks. It was quite possible that tho coal strike would cause delay in their completion. In addition to these, the Department was asking for offers for tho construction of one thousand in Now Zealand. Besides that, a number of trucks were being mndo in the railway workshops. That was as far as it was possi'blo to go. It would take some time before the first of these trucks would be available. Ho could not hope to have them beforo several months, but he liad promised to expedite matters as much as lio could. Some time ago, added Mr. Massey, h» had given tho Houso some information in regard to railway engines. He then stated that a contract had been let for 25 railway engines. Since then tho contract had been altered to provide for 45. By the time we had these engines and the trucks we ought to bo fairly well off. Mr. Smith: If we are alive. . Mr. Massey: "I hope we shall both be alive when that happens," He added that of course tho traffic was increasing enormously. It was our duty to koep pace with it and to kcop the supply rolling stock up-to-date..and ho believed that, that would bo dono. A further suggestion was mado by Mr Smith, who said that during tho railway cut of last year freight had accumulated at Ohafcune for two months. The Lepartment had sent up an oflicor, who, m the course or two months, had it oil cleared away, thus accomplishing lour months' normal work in two. Ho suggested that an officer, tho same one, if possible, should be sent up to Talhupe to reorganise tne traffic on that, section of tho lino and expedite the handling of freight. . Mr. Massey said that he would be very glad to seo if it was possible to do ua wag suggested.

ABOUT THE TRIPLETS

ME, FORBES SEEKS A BONUS.

"I have had a letter from a lady in my district in which she informs me that she has given birth to twins," said Mr. G. W. Forbes. (Ilurunui) in tho House yesterday afternoon. Members chorused, "What?" "I mean triplets," said Mr. Forbes,amid general laughter Mr Vigor Brown (Napier): Count them up again. (Laughter). The lady wished to know, said Mr Forbes, what was tho position in regard to claiming tho King's bounty for triplets. Even if there, was no bounty, added Mr. Forbes, the Government ought to do something encouraging. The Minister (Hon. G. J. Anderson): "The honourable gentleman is a very proud man to-day. (Laughter.) Ho is not the onlv representative of constituents who present the King with triplets. There was one ense. in Ngariawalua. where there were quadruplets." In 1892, continued the Minister, the late Queen Victoria notified the Government tlmt the bounty would bo naid for triplets on certain conditions. This was rentii.vned in 1910 during the roign of King IMv.i'Td. The conditions were, briefly, that the ovnt must be notified through the Secretary of State for the Colonics within four months of the birth of the children. Evidence miist bo submitted that the parents were married, were in indigent circumstances, and the children were all alivo „ , . ... Mr. Forbes: How much is it? Mr. Andorson: Ono pound oach. (Laughter.) ' I might suggest to the hon. member that as he is so honoured by this event in his electorate, ho might rise to the occasion. (Laughter.) Mr. G. Witty (Hicearton) asked whether th» New Zealand Government would be prepared to pay a subsidy in the ease of tin birth of twins or triplets, at tho rate of £10 for eachMr Anderson fahl ho was not prepared to answer that question, which had better co on the Order Paper, there verc eo many cases of twins that it would mean ft heavy drain on "the revenue, wit the Government might consider the case of Atmore (Nelson): You had better. call it a compassionnto allowance.

NATIVE WASHING-UP BILL "A CERTIFICATE OF CHARACTER." Sir William Herries last night moved iu the Houso the committal of. the Native Washing-up Bill. The Minister stated that the provisions of tho Bill embodied many recommendations of the Chief Judge of the Nativo Land Court, and some amendments of the Native Land Laws. •He proceeded to explain a number of clauses, and to assure the House that there was "nothing concealed in the Bill." It had been carefully considered by tho Native Affairs Committee. Tho Hon. A. T. Ngata (Eastern Maori) soid that he was prepared to give the Bill a certificate ol character. It contained no swindle. (Laughter.) Tho "Kapiti clause," authorising the acquisition by the Crown of tho Native interests on Kapiti Island, had been 6truck out. That clauso was a "hardy annual," and the Native Affairs Committee had objected to it on the principle that Nativo lntul should not bo taken without tho consent of the Nativo owners- There was very little forest on the Native block. He was anxious to know the result of tho investigations made by tho Royal Commission into sorao matters that had for years been exorcising tho minds of the Natives. Ho hoped that the reports of the commission would be tabled this session.

Sir William Herries: If his Excellency dlroots mo to do so, I 6hall be only too glad to table the papers. The Bill was put through coinnjittee and p.ifssed after midnight:.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19201104.2.53.5

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 34, 4 November 1920, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,351

RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 34, 4 November 1920, Page 6

RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 34, 4 November 1920, Page 6

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