RAILWAY SLEEPERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 86, 14 March 1885, Page 2

RAILWAY SLEEPERS .

The Post m sin article on 'the supply of ; railway sleeper's point* out with much force nml truth that the high prico normaily tendered for by sawiuillers lor their supply is mnitily due to the fact that Such a very large proportion of the sleepers which they cut are rejected by the Inspectors, on the most fanciful and unreasonable grounds, and thus theylisivr: to charge a very high price for the number which are accepted. Once cut into sleepers, the timber is of very little u*e for other purposes, anil the price charged by the sawmillers for each sleeper accepted has to be about double the cewtofeach one cut. If this were not so, the millers would simply be ruined by the rejections. Of course the Government Inspectors are quite right to insist on work being supplied kecofding to the specifications, and to reject all flawed, timber or sap-wood ; but it is said that not only are. the specifications unnecessarily stringent, but that the Inspectors constantly reject large quantities of sleepers for defects which m no way whatever aftect their usefulness for the purpose for which they are required, and that defects which would be,. and are, overlooked m imported sleepers, are deemed sufficient to ensure d)esumniai'y rejection of locally cut ones. We believe that m the above *ta(omßnt our Wellington con i emporary is quite inpide the limit* of strict truth and absolute facts. The sawruillers have pointed out to us over and over again piles of sleepers that have lieen condemned by the inspector, and with which no reasonable man could find the slightest fault. A. former ins' ector, (we think his name was Campbell) some time ago gained for himself quite an odious notoriety by his official conduct m that capitcity. Our contemporary, which we are glad lo see is lakin<r the question up, remarks that there should not be grounds for thisspecies of complaints, and uigesthe Minister of Public Works, as a practical man, to iook hinvsulf into thfi specifications, under which' supplies of- New Zealand sleepers an; invited, lo see whether they are not. nnnecps.s;irily sevoro, and also to enquii-o as to the princi|ile on which they an; inteiprcted by the Inspectors. Ho should, if it can bedone vat'elf, endeavQW to jgiye t))9 fl&wujiljers gome re-

lief m this direction, ami should then make another vigorous effort lo obtain local supplies by appealing to the proper quarters. If: these over-striu^Mifc regulations worn judiciously relaxed, and if the Inspectors could lie trusted to discharge their dunes intelligently, the result, would be that sawmillors would regain confidence. The complaints would cease to be heard," What is the usi! of tendering, when the Government never accept a tender; or if they do, all the profit will be lost iv the sleepers condemned by the Inspector." The consummation would be achieved that tenders would be sent m for sleepers at a price thafc would ensure contracts being given, and the resource* of the finest timber district m the North Island would be developed to practical advantage and witlrwofii. to those who havo invested capital m the business. The existing errors are easy of rectification, which will achieve results mutually advantageous to th« Government, and to the districts m which the' raw material abounds m such profuse quantity.