THE RAILWAY TRUCK SHORTAGE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3624, 10 November 1920, Page 4

THE RAILWAY TRUCK SHORTAGE.

The accumulations of goods—timber and firewood largely predominating — at various railway stations on the Raetihi branch line, and on the Ohakune section of the Main Trunk line, arc of such dimensions as to cause alarm in connection with the loss of money'and the possible check to industry they may entail. If they are not reduced : it is to’/ rably certain that timber mills will have to commence limiting output, and firewood cutters will have to cease work because there is. no payment forthcoming- for firewood kept lying at railway stations, to say nothing of the firewood famine..experienced in cities, and the extreme shortage of building timber. But Mr. R. W. Smith, from his place in Parliament, the other day suggested to Mr Massey, The Minister’ of Railways, a -ready way of overcoming the annoying difficulty. He asked the Prime Minister if ho would be willing to put into operation the method adopted for clearing away similar accumulations which banked up as a result of the drastic cutting down of train service as a result of The greatcoal famine. Mr. Suiith reminded the Minister that the Railway Department, then sent up an officer to co-operate with sawmillexs’ representatives in evolving the readiest methods of clearing away the huge accumulations which had then banked up, and that as a result four ordinary months’’ work was accomplished in two months. He asked the Minister whether, he would send up an officer, preferably the same man, to co-operate with ( those owning the goods, with a view to having the large quantity of timber, firewood and other goods now stacked at very nearly every railway station removed. Mr. ’Massey replied stating that lie would be glad to see if it was possible to comply with the honourable member’s request. It is the Wtumanno electoiato’s good fortune to have so resourceful a representative in Parliament, for it is plain that if special expert handling can overcome such difficulties, it is only reasonable to hope that the Railway Department will make an export available under the trying circumstances.