RAILWAY SERVICE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1700, 19 April 1917, Page 3

RAILWAY SERVICE.

CURTAILMENT IMPERATIVELY NECESSARY. TO COMMENCE ON MONDAY NEXT. Air official pronouncement on the subject of reduction of railway service was made by the Minister of Railways (Hon. W. fI. Berries) on Tuesday night, in (1m following terms: — “Consequent on the serious shortage uf coal throughout the Dominion, the Government considers that the time has arrived when it is imperatively necessary to curtail (lie transport facilities in the Dominion. “Although the Railway Department has fair slocks ot coal in hand, it has not been able to build up the necessary reserve owing to the requirements of transports and essential industries, and also to the ‘go-slow’ policy practised lately by (he New Zealand miners, and the dillieiilly of obtaining ships to bring over coal from New South Wales. The reeenl ill-advised action of the miners on I lie West Coast has accentuated I lie position and makes drastic curtailment an absolute necessity without wailing tor Ist May, the date on which the slalf-saving scheme was to he inaugurated. GOODS THAT WILL NOT BE CARRIED.

“Goods such as limber, builders’ materials, fencing material, green llax and llax in bales, cement, corrugated iron, vehicles of all descriptions, straw, all minerals except coal and cuke, and goods which come generally under classes ‘N,’ ‘P,’ and 'Q,' and lime for manures, will not be carried on the railways. MINERS’ MISGUIDED ACTION. “It will, therefore, be seem that (he misguided action of the coalminers will have a serious effect on many of our essential industries, which give employment to a very considerable number of workers, and from which the railways derive a large amount of Ira Hie.

“It is very desirable (hat those members of (he community who are now away from their homes should he immediately warned through the press to return not later than Saturday, 21sl instant, as after that dale a strictly limited passenger and goods business only can he provided for, until such lime as the coal miners resume work, and ample coal stocks have been accumulated. LONGEST WARNING POSSIBLE. “This intimation is given so that the public may have the longest warning possible. It is hoped, however. that the visit to the' West Coast of (lie Acting-Prime Minister and the Hon. Mr MacDonald, Minister of Mines, may have the effect of making the miners see that the most patriotic thing they can do, and the lies) way in which (hey can serve their country would he to return to u’ork before Monday, in which ease these curl ailments, which admittedly will enlail inconvenience and loss to the public, may hi 1 avoided."