DEPUTATION TO MR OLIVER.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1866, 16 February 1880, Page 3

DEPUTATION TO MR OLIVER.

[By Telegraph.] DUNEDIN, Februory 14. This forenoon a deputation from the committee of the Chamber of Commerce, comprising Messrs E. B. Cargill, J. A. Waloot, J. Ashcroft, A. Burt, J. 8. Webb, G. Turnbull, J. T. Mackerras, and R. Wilson, waited on the Minister for Public Works in reference to railway mat'e.-s. Mr Cargill explained that tho general feeling of the Chamber, as represented by the committee, was strongly ia favor of the Government in their endeavors to economise the working of tho railways, it being evident that it was of the first importance to the commercial and other interests of the colony that the railways should be conducted as paying concerns. The committee could only express the hope that every effort would be made to obviate inconvenience to the public, by shortening as much as possible the stoppages at the stations, which were thought to be too long in some cases. A matter affecting tho commercial interests that required revision was the goods tariff, which appeared to be unnecessarily complicated in discriminating between different articles, and was found to be cumbersome by persons sending goods by rail. It was thought the tariff might be very much simplified and permit of goods being charged by weight, except grain produce or coals, which might be charged at a lower rate. The travelling public required better accommodation at the stations than was provided, and the matter of refreshment rooms, where people going long distances might be able to obtain a cup of tea or coffee without having to go to a bar for it, required attention. In connection with the tenders advertised for a West Coast service, it was pointed out that connection with Dunedin was omitted for the first time, and it was asked what was the cause. In obedience to the wish of tho House, the Government had recently called for and accepted tenders for the supply of Native coal for railway purposes, but the acceptance had been accompanied with an intimation that the coal was in some cases not to be used on the lines, but in the railway workshops. This announcement had occasioned a good deal of disappointment to persons interested in the ent°rprise. Mr Armstrong, tbe Locomotive Superintendent, was very earnest in his endeavours to utilise the coal, but it was stated that his subordinates, particularly Mr Stewart, had expressed themselves strongly against the-use ot colonial coal. Mr Oliver replied as follows :—Mr Oarg ll and gentlemen, it is a great pleasure to me to receive the compliment ot your approval of the comse which I have thought it my duty to adopt with regard to the abolition of some of tbe trains. As you say, it is quite apparent that the utmost economy in the working ot our railway system is absolutely necessary, because the receipts during the first four months of the present financial year were only in excess of the expenditure by about 5 or 6 per cent. Over 90 per cent, of the receipts were employed in working expenses, so that, there would be a very little contribution from the working of the railways, if that were to last, to pay interest on the cost of their construction. I am very glad to see the Chamber of Commerce considering those matters, because, as all of you are aware, I have always looked upon Chambers of Com meroe as most useful institutions, which should be by no means allowed to become extinct, and that every effort should be made to keep them in active operation as mediums of representing tho feelings of the commercial and mercantile communities in this and other places to the Government, and the modes by sbich commercial opinions may be concern 'rated, defined, and brought to bear on the Government. I may say with regard to almost every matter that has been mentioned, that if I had been present hero as representing the Chamber, I should have urged the same considerations to tho Minister as Mr Cargill has done. Most of those matters had engaged my attention, and I may say generally that I quite coincide with the views expressed by your chairman. With [regard to making con veniont the running of tbe mixed train, whio! for a time supplies the express train on tin Invercargill line, you will have gathered from tho reply I made to the Invercargill Chambei of Commerce last week that the necessity o’ greater promptness in despatch of trains from ihs various stations had been recognised by

me. Mr Oliver added that ho was arranging with the Commissioner to curtail stoppages as much as possible, and to modify the goods traffic, where practicable. Where goods of more than one class are sent down to the train by one person at tho same time they would all be charged as belonging to the highest Tho Government would endeavor to provide bettor station accommodation and would see that the use of colonial coal on the lines was not obstructed. He would bo glad when Chambers of Commerce acted as a medium between tho Government and the public, suggesting improvement of details in railway management. As to the West Coast service being called for omitting Dunedin, he was ignorant of the matter, which was in the province of tho Postmaster-General, whoso attention would bo directed to the matter.