RAIL FREIGHT BOOK

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 576, 31 January 1929, Page 9

RAIL FREIGHT BOOK

GIFT TO N.Z. PUBLIC VALUABLE PUBLICATION (Special to THE SUN) WELLINGTON, To-day. Widespread attention has been given to the latest effort of the New Zealand Railways to grant better service to the country, states the genera! manager, Mr. H. H. Sterling. This new move takes the form of issuing n freight book, a step which, it is claimed, has not yet been made by an}’ other railway in the world. For many years the general public has been ignorant of the times of dispatch of goods trains from point to point in the Dominion, and the freight, book, which is just in circulation, will put an end to that ignorance. Iu the preface to the book Mr. Sterling declares that its purpose “is to give t<* the public something which has never before been available —a reference publication regarding the principal good trains operating throughout the Dominion. and a description of the facilities for handling freight provided by the department.” Recent years have witnessed a remarkable expansion in the goods traffic, of the country, the tonnage showing an increase of almost 2,000,000 tons. In 1918 5,373,000 tons were carried, in 1928 7,366,000 tons. In view of this and the fact that additional lines into new territory have recently been taken over by the department, it is felt that the time has come for a better diffusion o knowledge regarding the general capacity of the railways to handle freight. The Freight Book, which will be kept up-to-date by frequent re-issues, lists the time of departure of goods trains from stations to all other principal points, the time up to which goods are accepted, the hour of arrival at the destination and the time occupied on the journey. Thus, under the heading of Auckland, there are given 45 references to 35 principal stations, Christchurch has 20 references to 14 | stations, and Dunedin six references to five stations. In addition, there is some common-sense advice as to the shipment of goods, and information as to consignment-notes, checking brand*, goods from overseas, and through booking of freight between the islands, a service which is rapidly increasing. Full description and capacity of freight j wagons is also given and the book LB illustrated throughout-