Hon. J. G. Ward at Riverton.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6708, 29 May 1900, Page 3

Hon. J. G. Ward at Riverton.

» The Hon. J. G. Ward addressed a j Jarge meeting at Riverton last night on I railway and postal matters. We make i the following extracts from his speech :-—

ROLLING STOCK. I may tell you that, taking the rolling stock as it existed on the 81st March" 1599, as a basis, we still require 20 large tender engines and 20 large tank engines, a total of 40 engines, three thousand wagons and 140 cars, in order to cope satisfactorily with our existing business. I am pleased to be able to announce to you that the necessary steps have been taken to increase the rolling stock of our railways. The rapid development of the country and the consequently enormous expansion of our traffic renders it imperative that a large additional supply of trucks must be provided without delay. Our workshops are in this respect doing all that is possible, and much as I should like to see this class of work kept ! entirely in the colony, it is impossible, without great dislocation of traffic and an inconvenience to the producers of the country. The Government would not be warranted in allowing it to continue and not to order a portion of our truck supply from outside the colony. In addition to this tenders will be invited for the manufacture of sonic trucks from private shops within the colony. I hope by adopting this course to be able by January next to have largely overcome tht difficulty that has, from the great growth of traffic, presented itself for some time past in this respect. I may add that from a careful estimate made there is sufficient work ahead for our railway workshops to be kept going fully for the next four or five years, and as every year I sees the opening of fresh railway lines and additional traffic, there is no valid reason why at the end of that period this important branch of the railway service should not be more actively continued. It will be necessary at no distant date to considerably extend our workshops to enable them to cope with the increasing demands for rolling stock. TRAFFIC SUPERINTENDEVrS. j To meet the growing requirements of the traffic and in order to secure more efficient working and more equitable use of the rolling stock, it has been decided to place the control of distribution under a traffic superintendent in each Inland, and the district management is to be empowered to confer with settlers and locally to arrange for all possible facilities in the districts over which they preside. By adopting this system a very much better use should be got of the rolling I stock upon the different sections of rail* ways. Should the requirements of the traffic need if, the traffic superintendent having control of rolling stock under his administration, will be able to transfer temporarily from various districts trucks to relieve any congested traffic that may arise in another district. I feel confident that under the experienced guidance of the traffic^ superintendents and the district traffic managers the best possible results will follow from this change and that many of the troubles that have arisen in connection with trucks in the past will be overcome. I think it is only right to say that from my personal observation and from investigations from time to time which my duty has compelled me to make, the traffic branch has utilised available trucks to the best possible advantage and has left nothin" undone in endeavouring to cope with a growing traffic that at times was beyond the capacity of the rolling stock to quickly meet.

PRECAUTIONS FOR SAFETY

I am deeply impressed with tlie grave responsibility placed on the shoulders of those entrusted with the administration and carrying on of the service, and the necessity for doing all that is possible to provide for the conduct of the traffic in the safest and best manner possible. With this important object in view it has been decided on the principal main lines of the colony to introduce the electric train staff system for working our trains with safety. This system provides an absolute block system for safe single line working. It is moreover imperative for safe working that the points and signals at all stations and junctions through which trains run ' without stopping, should be interlocked, and I have, therefore, resolved to order this work to be done with the least possible delay. A soon as the company can carry out the work, the Westinghouse automatic brake will be fitted to the whole of our rolling stock.

IMPROVED CARRIAGES,

Plans for improved railway carriages for long journeys aro in hand, and 1 hope shortly to equip our express and mail trains with cars having more modern conveniences, and cave will be taken not to overlook the second-class passengers. I have decided to have provided at as early a date as possible on all express services throughout the colony separate accommodation for ladies, and where the traffic warrants it to adopt a similar system upon other train services.

CHANGES IN THE STAFF

The following alterations will be made amongst the chief officers of the Railway Department :—Mr W. H. Gaw will be trafhc superintendent atDunedin for the South Island, and Mr Arthur will proceed _to Christchurch to take up the position of traffic manager there ; Mr A Grant will be traffic superintendent at Wellington for the North Island; Mr T E. Donne will be traffic manager for the Auckland section; Mr J. H. Pox will be appointed to the position of brake engineer in.charge of the Westinghouso brake. The traffic superintendents will require to meet the general manager and assistant-general manager in Wellington every month or two or more frequently if necessary. They," with the district traffic managers, will also hold a conference every six months. SUPERANNUATION AND OTHER MATTERS Ihe Minister of Railways then proceeded to discuss the question of superannuation and declared that the time had arrived when he conceived it to be the duty of the country to provide for an effective system of superannuation for the employees of the railway service. Alon« with this there would be facilities offered to deserving and intelligent wages men as distinguished from clerks, to become station masters. Officers are to be paid for Sunday duty. Exhibitors of stock at shows will be encouraged and lower fares will prevail during the currency of agricultural shows. To avoid overcrowding at stations at excursion times tickets are to be sold at the chief centres a day prior kto the excusion. Foot warmers for the fcse of traveller's in winter are to be pro■jrtedon payment of a small fee., HOURS TO BE EXTENDED. telegraph offices throughare to be kept open day In the first instance this will Napier, Wanganui, Christchurch, Timaru, and Inyercargill. in conthe employees, and courtesy.