CONTRASTING RAILWAY METHODS.

Shannon News, 9 June 1922, Page 3

CONTRASTING RAILWAY METHODS.

A correspondent writes to the Wellington Evening Post as follows: Recently when in England on business I was very much struck with a conversation I had with a goods agent on the Great Northern Railway. I had occasion to send some goods from London to Peterborough, and having made some inquiry at the company's offices, their agent called to see mo at my hotel, where the following conversation took place: —

Agent: You were inquiring about freight rates on perishable goods to Peterborough, sir?

Self: Yes, I have a few dozen cases to go there.

Agent: Our rate on this class of goods is IDs per ton, and wc will call for the cases and deliver them at our Peterborough store. We have a goods train at 4 p.m. daily, but we like you to give us six hours' notice. Self: Thank you. I will send the cases at once. Will you call-at 798 Southampton Row to-morrow morning? Agent: Very well, sir." You may depend on us. Good morning. The above was a contrast with my conversation with the goods office clerk at Papu ki, New Zealand: —

Self: I want to send two dozen cases of goods to Wellington to-mor-row. Clerk: You can't send them unless you order a truck, and now it's too late to got one until to-morrow night. Self: Very well. Will you please order two trucks as soon as possible. Clerk: What sort do you want? Self: I think open trucks, with, tarpaulins.

Clerk: All right, sir. Sign here. You will be charged demurrage if you don't load within twenty-four hours of the time the trucks arrive. Self: Very well; I'll have the cases here on Thursday morning. Interim.—Thursday morning; raining hard and southerly blowing. Self: Good morning. I've come to load those two trucks I ordered the day before yesterday. Clerk: What two trucks? Oh, ycsl I got word yesterday that you can't have tlufse two trucks till Saturday. Self: fSut I've got the cases here, and I must away to-night. I simply can't stay here. Clerk: Well, you can't get the trucks and that's an end of it.

Self: Very well. Cancel the order for the trucks. I'll just have to send the cases by Smith's motor, though it will cost me double the money.