RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 16

RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

DEPUTATIONS TO MINISTER. CHRISTCHURCH, August 11. A deputation waited on the Hon. JA. Millar to-day with -a request thatfreight on lion_ey and beeswax should be brought more into line with freights fixed to give encouragement to fruiti growers, dairymen, and cheese manufacturers; The Minister said he feared that thefact of a low rate- being- made for one item prompted suggestion* that the rates on other items should also be lowered. It was rather difficult to please all people. Some said that the railways should be made io pay ; others that they should be u&ed to encourage settlement, and to> cheapen products by means of cheap rates. He could not make any promise" that the reauetion asked for would be ' made, but he would look into the matter on his return to Wellington, and wouia see what could be done. He quite recognised the growing importance of the j industry, and Tie would do what he could to- assist it. Another deputation asked that improved regulations should be made in connection with the running of the Springfield trains. The Minister said that there were many lines in exactly the same position. He was coming to the conclusion that the department was doing a great deal too much in that respect. The department in New Zealand did what was not done in any other country that he knew of. It received goods for despatch to every outlying station. In most of these cases the trade only warranted goods being sent twice or even once a week. At present it was necessary to have a time-table, and the train had to stop at a station whether there was any necessity for it or no,t There were boadreds of stations where he" was satisfied ! the trade did not justify a stoppage more than twice a Week as far as goods were concerned, and trucks were left lying useless for two or three days. In this case, however, he would make inquiries, and on 1 his return to Wellington would see if an improvement could not be made.