GOODS FREIGHTS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 26 September 1924, Page 5

GOODS FREIGHTS

REDUCTION IN RAILWAYS. CONCESSIONS TOTAL- £200,000. ■ . v t, (By Telegraph.—Special to Star). . WELLINGTON, Sept. 26. ihe railway statement foreshadows reductions in goods freights amounting to £200.000, principally to meet motor competition in the transit of benzine, household removals and on commodities listed in the higher classes of the tariff. Details of the proposals will be submitted to Cabinet .within a few weeks. The Minister emphasises the necessity for a more elastic method in revising the .tariff, ,so as to promptly meet- an urgent case of competition. ‘ jWORKING EXPENSES: Many sections of the. South Island lines can be reduced, by the use of rail motors*, giving a more frequent service. The most important passenger innovation is a proposal to run from November till Easter a limited express service between Wellington and Auckland, leaving each station at about 7 P- m - and reaching Wellington and Auckland respectively before 11 the next morning. There will be only six intermediate stops Frankton,- Taumarumii, Ohakune, Taihape,' Marton, and Palmerston North. The report suggests that double the existing traffic would be needed to make the Otira tunnel profitable, ■ and the estimated annual loss on Working, including interest on £1,500,(XX), is estimated at £70,-, 000. The railway administration is being reorganised by giving a frjeer hand and greater responsibility to the executive bfficers. ' , The. financial results of the .revised working conditions" for. the .second division staff following’ the recent strike are detailed. The approximate cost of the additional four h'ours weekly per man is £230,000, and the cost of the concessions recommended by the board £25,172. against which is set the reductions recommended by the board amounting to £15,360, the cost of overtime on the 44-hour week prior to the strike £63,500, estimated value of the increased output of work on the permanent way £68,000, locomotive and workshops £96,600, traffic and ; miscellaneous £28,720, total £272,180j showing a. net balance in the Department’s faVoup of £17,000. It is anticipated that most of the surplus staff due* to: extended hours will be absorbed in one year. : The report discussdd the iise of the petrol rail car,' which is regarded as quite unsuitable for suburban services where frequent stopping and high acceleration are necessary. A better system would be light trains with, light steam cars run by one; man. This type is to be immediately contructed for trial. There i s a fairiy large field in New Zealand for a petrol car in the country districts seating 70 people and running 35 to 45 miles per hour. Such a car can he built and tested. . , The Minister expresses the opinion that the Dominion has a splendid railway system which, if given the necessary facilities, can he made to. pay reasonable interest 611 capital and render more satisfactory service to the community. - The report on railway improvements is a separate document not yet available.