THE RAILWAY “CUT.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2052, 8 November 1919, Page 3

THE RAILWAY “CUT.”

DUE TO SHORTAGE OK COAL

The Railway Commission's report was laid before Parliament on Wednesday. It states that the evidence showed that the rolling slock and engines were maintained in good and efficient condition, and proper provision had been made for I heir upkeep and renewal.-' The number

of engines, carriages and waggons under repair at the beginning of July, Dlt), was not excessive. .No responsible officer had reported adversely on the rolling stock’s condition during the past four years. The curtailment of (he train services made on July. 2nd, DHL was r • . no( due lo the luisul'e eonditmn of the rolling stock or (he engines, but solely lo the shortage of coal. The whole stock held by the Department on that date was 9,500. tons, scattered over many depots and quite insufficient to continue the old timetable. There had been a great depletion of coal stocks from the end of October, HJlii, due to (he shortage of shipping and miners, to the diminished output of bituminous coal from (ho West Coast mines, to diminished imports from Newcastle, and to strikes and an-increased demand by the'Navy for Westport coal. The sjocks of railway coal fell by various Tine tun lions from 85,422 tons in October, 1913, to 9,500 in July, 1919. From October, 1917, the Department was rationed, as there were not sufficient supplies coming forward. The Gemma 1 Manager had refused to pay the high freights demanded by ocean steamers to make special trips to New Zealand with coal, and the Commission thinks he did not show proper foresight in this attitude. The Minister of Munitions had in some urgent cases diverted to other industries coal that had been allocated to the railways. The staffing was sufficient to maintain the ordinary time-table if other conditions had been satisfactory. The restrictions on the carriage of passengers and goods were essential.