SUNDAY MILK TRAIN.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 139, 24 October 1913, Page 1

SUNDAY MILK TRAIN.

Auckland Members Approached' The Pukekohe Chamber or Commerce has kept un advocating the running of a Sunday milk train from Pukekohe to Auckland. Letters have been addressed to the Auckland district members ol Parliament as follows: "Recently the Minister of Railways has been asked to arrange for the carriage of milk between Pukekohe and Auckland on Sundays. Owing to the districts around Auckland having become thickl 7 populated there has been a decided shortage of milk throughout the winter and as this district is able to supply a large quantity negotiations were made with several farmers to find out what quantity would be available. When this was done the Miuialer of Railways was approached to convey the milk to Auckland on Sunday but he has refused to do to. "For your information I would point out that a farmers' company has been formed around Fapatoetoe, Mangeie, East Temaki and Pakurangi, and these farmers wish to create a monopoly of the Auckland miltc trade, and they have evidently used sufficient pre a sure against Sunday's milk being carried from Puk2kohe to block the convenience being granted. ' "It is almost unnecessary far me to combat the absurd arguments advanced by the Farmers' Co-opera-tive Association to the effect that they could supoly Auckland with milk and that the guaranteeing of an extra rupply from Pukekohe would be of r.o benefit to the town. The importation of extra milk from anywhere is bound to have its effect on the prices paid by the working man, and the fact that the districts who are asking for this close monopoly have been unable to supply Auckland with its requirement! during the past winter, is sufficient 1 evidence that even if they sre able by making a special effort to supply tbe demand next season the growth of the town is so rapid, and so many ot the suburban farms are being cut up, that it will only bn a short time before the Auckland consumers will experience another famine in milk.

"As this represents a serious problem to the constituents of the Auckland members, we feel quite justified in bringing under your personal notice Ihis refusal of the Railway Department to meet the demar.d of thu traffic, and which refusal aa I have slieady mentioned has evidently been brought about by the pressure brought to bear by a fen farmers who are anxious tn create a monopoly. Trusting that this matter will receive vour best attention and the hearty support that it deserves."

Mr Harri?, M.P. for Waitemata, and Mr Myere, M.F. tor Auckland East, replied that the matter would have their attention

WHAT IHE MINISTER SAYS. Mr A. E. Glover straightway tackled the Minister for Kailwavs and to that member the Hon. W. H. Herries replied —"Witn to your letter of lMth insta*and yuur representations in regard to the running of Sunday trains between Pukekohe end Auckland lor the conveyance of milk, I have the hinour to inform you that after carefully reviewing the matter I find that in addition to other serious objection* the business i 3 far too small to warrant the running of trains on Sunday as suggested. It has been stated that about 1800 gallons of milk wtuld be forthcoming, when in fact it wojld require at least 4000 gallons of milk to pay the bare coat of the running of a special train for tee milk busines--. Sunday trains aie more expensive to the Department than those run during ordinary week days by reason of the fact that the men have to be paid at the overtime rates, and the position is materially altered owing to a very large section of the community strongly objecting to Sunday ttams being run under any circumstances; and tbe Department is frequently assailed by thoEe who so object even in respect to the existing Sunday suburban trains which are run to meet tie requiiements of large sections of the community. "lu view, therefore, of the fact that the business likely to be forthcoming is insufficient to pay the cost of running the train asked fur I ragret that tha request cannot be complied with." WHAT WOULD TRAIN COST.

A series of letters ensued, cf which the following is a summary:—

Septemer 30th.—Prime Minister to Chamber secretary (Mr B. H. Andrew)"ln continuation of my letter of the 22nd instant, relative to the application to tha Minister ct Railways for the carriage of milk by train between Puktkohe and Auckland on Sundays, I hav3 to state that I duly brought this matter before my colleague. After carefully considering the question the Hon. Mr Herries advises me that there is net sufficient milk offering to warrant the running of Sunday trains. As the new Genual Manager for Railways has arrived I am asking my colleagues to have thin matter submitted to him for personal investigation. October 3rd.—Chamber secretary to Prime Minister:—"The Chamber of Commerce wish to know what would be the cost ot running this train from Papakura to Pukekohe and back each Sunday, and also plsase advise us how the coat is inada up. On receipt of this information the interested local parties will be able to place a scheme before you which should te satisfactory to the Department." October 2nd.—Chamber secretary to Mr A. E. Glover:—"The position in regard to this matter is quite unsatisfactory from our standpoint. An effort haa been made to find oat what the cost of running this train would be so that whatever loss there is in the running of the train can be guaranteed to the Department. Tha Railway Department are continually hedging the question and the farmers that are interested are unable to ascertain what the amount of this loss is that the Department complain of. If you can find out this information it would be a considerable help iD the matter." October 6th.—Minister of Railways to Mr Glover: —"1 am having enquiiies made respecting the points upon which Mr Andrew desires information, and if the particulars enn be supplied 1 shall have pleasure in forwarding the same to you for transmission to Mr Andrew." October 11th.—Chamber secretary to Mr Glover:—"l am in receipt of the memo, of the 6th addressed to you by the Minister of.Railways and I trust that you will be able to get the information required. Does it not appear rather strange to you that there should be any doubt about getting this information. Tha Department stated in the first place there is not sufficient trade to pay tha expenses of running the train, aid on the other hand refuse to give information showing how they make up their expenses, and also refuse to state what guarantee is required to meet the expense of running the train."