TIMBER TRADE AND THE RAILWAYS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 37, 13 August 1919, Page 7

TIMBER TRADE AND THE RAILWAYS

Replying to a letter from thei Auckland Timber TJnion,jvhich urged the Railway Department that immediate relief should be given, to sawmillers by pkeing sufficient trucks at their disposal and including timber in the list of essential goods, tho General Manager of Railways (Mr. R. M'Villy) stated that the' Department fully realised the difficulties created by the restrictions, but that tho coal shortage was still acute, and. it was imperative tlxat engine mileage should be restricted as much as possible until prospects improved. ,Ho expressed'regret atthe • unfortunate position in which sawmill employees had been placed, and gssve an asssurance that the Department would endeavour to assist the timber, industry, but' other more urgent and perishable! traffic must have prior consideration. He added that it was hoped the efforts being made to reduce the passenger traffio; would permit some-relaxation 'in regardto urgent timber. Commenting on the statement by Mr. M'Villy that more urgent and perishable goods must receive prior consideration, Mr. Phelan, secretary of the union, told a New Zealand Herald reporter that ■without timber the whole; of the building trade would be practically at a standstill, and this meant that thousands of workers would be thrown out of employment. He suggested that the Government would be justified in declining to carry beer on the railway while timber was refused. Referring to the workers at country sawmills, Mr,. Pfielan said the majority of them had made homes close to their work, and no other employment being available in the locality their' sole means of livelihood had disappeared. In addition the Department refused to remove the workers and their household goods to> other employment. Mr. Phelan added that as the majority of the sawmillers, were not irt a position to continue milling' operations and store their timber, the continuance of the restrictions would mean serious financial loss, perhaps ruin, to them.

The following motion was carried unanimously at a meeting of the Paekakariki branch of thtv-Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association: "That a letter of thanks and appreciation be sent to Mr. J. P. Luke, C.M.G., M.P., Mayor of Wellington, for his successful efforts in obtaining a' favourable reply from the General. Manager, New Zealand Railways, wheieby railwaymen •who were, absent from work nursing their families or o'dliers dur-ujg; the influenza epidemic will receive full pay for occupied;".- After commenting on the success achieved by Mr.- Luke, the Loco. Journal states : "The last letter we received from the Department advised that this could not be granted, as the Government had gone as far as they could, in meeting the men who had been off work with the influenza Possibly Mr. Luko advised the Minister as to what, the average citizen.,considers4!i M- ipgtis?-."-