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Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1924, Page 2

Tin: local body concerned appears to lie having considerable difficulty in arranging with tin* railway department for the use of rolling stock on the south line as far as tho AA’aitaha for the carraige of the land) traffic this season. The AA’ostlaiid County Council has been negotiating now over a long period and lias gone the length of offering to indemnify the. Department for any damage to tho rolling stock when used on tho tramway of Stuart and Chapman Ltd. Still the Department continues to raise difficulties, and continues to ask additional attention to the tramway. Tho line of course i.s in daily use for the haulage of heavy loads. Rakes of log trucks are lieing hauled over the line, representing in a given period thousands of tons in weight. The traffic the line carries is a very good test to the tramway, which must lie improving all the time under tho heavy pressure put upon it. The land) traffic in weight cannot be compared with the log traffic which is a heavy strain on tho line by reason of tho length of the loading. Just why the Department continues to put obstacles in the way is not clear. It is more difficult to understand, too, because of the late statement of the Minister of Railways as to the now policy of the Department. Air Coates has said that it has been the fashion to sit down and wait for traffic to conic to the railways. That is to tie altered—tlie traffic* managers and commercial agents are to go out and tiring traffic in! But here is a case where extra traffic i.s prof erred and every obstacle is raised to block it by the officers of the Department. The alternative of course is for the settlers to combine and have their land>s transported by motor lorry. Double deck loads could bo arranged for the through trip from paddock to market, and Air Coates as Alinistor of Railways, would see the I railways lose trade, while as Alinister I

of Pul,lt Works lie would see the highways cut up. Yot that is the position which is maturing hr the action of his railway office re. The position could he possible apparently only in the Railway Department. The economic lass to the country as a whole by the hampering of produce for market is another aspect for consideration. The railways should he ready to help the farmer with his preduo in every way; not .set about raising difficulties and adding unduly to the cost of marketing produce. It is to lie hoped the local body will persist in the matter till it accomplishes the reasonable proposal it has in hand.

I’llk sawdust-in-streams problem presented all its difficulties again, when the Acclimatisation Society had the matter before it on Monday night. 'I he matter was brought forward on behalf of the sawniillers in this vicinity anil it was made very clear that the prohibition proposed would hit the industry very hard. About £ol),000 annually is paid out in wages by the local mills, fully half of which would find the greatest financial difficulty in complying with the regulations it is proposed to enforce next month. There is the .suggestion not only that the wages hill will decline one-half, hut half the employeewill l.e thrown out of employment. Sawniilling is the chief avenue for labor nowadays, and if that is restricted unduly, the effect "ill he felt by every class of business all through the community. Doing the paramount industry it is all the more im]ortant that it should not he harrassed in such a way as to jeopardise its future. To meet the situation, a compromise has been suggested, and this in its wisdom the Society has agreed to pass on to the Government. There is of course th<“ other side in the matter, hut in that regard the whole aspect must be weighed, and the balance is largely in favor of the sawniilling receiving all possible consideration in the matter.