STOPPING TIMBER TRAFFIC.

Patea Mail, 9 August 1882, Page 3

STOPPING TIMBER TRAFFIC.

So serious is the stoppage of timber traffic along this coast, that the gap at Rangitikei bridge has thrown a number of carpenters out of work from that point northwards. In Patea alone the stoppage has thrown probably a score of men idle who would otherwise have-work in hand* It aggravates the general depression of trade in the district, and causes loss in many ways.

It would be so easy for Government to avoid all this by arranging for. the transit of timber across the Eangitikei river. If they do this with general goods, why not with timber ? Consignees are spread over the country, and cannot go to Rangtikei to arrange for the passage of each occasional load of timber across the river. Nor can timber be got out by way of Foxton except under conditions that prohibit the traffic as a temporary expedient. Contracts are made • rates are fixed ; and these cannot be made to fit in with the conditions of sea transit during a few weeks. Hence the only remedy lies with the Government.

As railway carriers, the Government are not justified in stopping the timber trade in a vexatious manner, by refusing to pass timber over a river between the two broken ends of their railway. They might get a standing instruction, by telegraph, from the larger consignees, that the timber shall be passed overtire river in the best practicable manner, at consignee’s risk, and subject to such reasonable extra charge as may be necesaary. The same terms could be made with consignees of particular loads. If a proper disposition were shown to get over this difficulty, it could be done. The Government are the only body that can provide for such a contingency. It is their duty as carriers to make the best, and not the worst, arrangement. It is their political duty to stretch a point in such a case, and prevent so much grievance and loss.