MIDLAND LINE.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1924, Page 4

MIDLAND LINE.

INCREASING ’VOLUME OF TRAFFIC. CHRISTCHURCH. .Tunc 17. “The indic-ations are that we are getting an increased volume of trallic on the Midland line,” said Air H. Chapman, District Railway Manager at yesterday’ll meeting of tlio District Railway Committee' of the Canterbury Progress League, lie added that a fair amount of trallic was coming from Timaru. Mr 11. Holland said that it must he a great advantage to the railway to get traffic from Timaru. Air Cliatian said he understood that tlie Union" Company had sent no boat to the' Coast from Lyttelton lOr the past two months. That was because they could get no hack loading. Mr I\R. Climio said that it \Cns just as well, for Auckland people for instance, to know that the' Midland line' was attracting freight on other lines. If the railway was'gotting freight Horn Timaru for the Const 1b" traffic on the line from Timaru ought to show an increase. Air Chapman said that the traffic from Timaru was not very large at present. The most from that town in one

month was 244 tons consisting chiefly of primary produce. Mr Holland: It is all gain for the Railway Department. Mr Chapman: Vos. Air Holland said it was very gratifying to all who liad had anything to do with the completion of the Oliva tunnel. The report showed that things were moving in the right direction. Mr Chapman said he thought the iradio on the Midland line would increase. Mr \V. Stringleman said he thought the committee eonld drop the agitation for a decrease on the height rates on the Midland line because the railway was getting practically all the business.