RAILWAY RESTRICTIONS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2002, 12 July 1919, Page 3

RAILWAY RESTRICTIONS.

MR. MeVILLY EXPLAINS.

Mr HcVilly, General Manager of Railways, publishes a statement In defence of the railway restrictions, in which he reiterates that the restrictions were entirely due to the coal shortage. He points out that the diminution of railway coal stocks is due to circumstances over which the Department had no control. He says that since 1914 the Dominion has been taking part in a world war, and every industry at home and abroad had been materially affected. Shipping had been diverted from ordinary peace channels and taken for war purposes. Men in tens of thousands had been withdrawn from industries to serve with the colours. An epidemic of sickness had ravaged the country, and had taken its toll in the ranks of the workers. The output of coal from the local mines had decreased by three-quarters of a million tons per annum. Finally on top of these conditions came the disastrous strike of seamen in Australia, which suddenly cut the Dominion off from supplies, upon which we wore dependent, even Avhen the output of our oavu mines was at its normal figure. “It appears to bo lost sight of,” says Mr McVilly, “that in 1915 the condition of the Coal supplies became so serious as to necessitate (he appointment of a Coal Trade Board, under I lie direction of the Minister of Munitions. This Board assumed full control of the allocation of all supplies of coal in and for the Dominion, ami supplies for the Railway Department, in common with other industries, came automatically under its control. The Railway Department has taken care to keep the Board fully apprised, week by Aveek, of the state of the Depart meal’s stocks and requirements, ami has, in addition, by the use of its organisation, and in fact, by every means in its poAver, assisted Hie Board to obtain both coal and shipping from outside the Dominion. It did this, moreover, Avith Ihe full knowledge (hat supplies so arranged would bo subject to the Board’s allocation, and might lie, and in fact frequently Avere, diverted to oilier imlnsiries. It scorns clear from the consideration of the foregoing that 1 lie strictures upon (lie. management of (he Department for failing lo look ahead were based upon incorrect or incomplete information. This applies equally to the assertion that the management, with the war regulations behind it, had )mwer if it chose, to apply it to commandeer both vessels and coal mines in order to obtain its supplies. The management had no such poAver, Avith or without Avar regulations.”