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Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1925, Page 2

Tiie reply of the .Minister of Railways refusing to permit sheep trucks to be hauled over the tramway of .Stuart and Cnupman Ltd., of Ross, loaded with South Westland lambs is another instance of the want of sympathy on the part of the Department with the natural requirements of the district. Here is a tramway in daily use over which a steam locomotive hauls long rakes of trucks with logs and sawn timber—very weighty loads which Lilly test the line at every point. The trucks loaded with lambs in the matter of weight are not to he compared with the log-hauling side of the case. If such unweildv loads as trucks of logs can he hauled in safety week in and week out. surely a cargo of lambs can he transported with security. As regards possible damage to the Government rolling stock, the local body promised, or offered in its original application. to indemnify the Department against damage to the trucks while passing over the tramline. AYith this safeguard the Government would he secure, hut the Minister has elected to make assurance doubly sure hv vetoeiug t-e traffic altogether! Tin Minister by his action does not show any of that new born enterprise which it was hoped was to follow the change orer in the management of the railways. The Department is evidently bound as tight as ever by red tape methods. It would appear that the Minister of Railways has contented

himself by handi-hg the Sate ‘telegram from the County Chairman to a departmental officer who has looked up the letter file in Head office, and passed on the decision of some former officer who exercised the power of veto It was hoped the Minister would deal with the matter on its merits himself, ami not leave it to others guided by an old report, to veto a request which woidd be of great value to the south settlers, and indirectly to the community’ as a whole.