RAILWAY REQUIREMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8064, 21 March 1906, Page 2

RAILWAY REQUIREMENTS.

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTEH. (I'ER I'RESS ASSOCIATION.) Wellington, March 20. Last mouth a Conference was held at Palmerston North, and was attended by delegates from Hawkes Bay, Wrairarapa and Wanganiii, to consider certain aspects of railway administration. At this Conference resolutions were passed with reference to improvements required in the Napier-Paliuerstou North service, the W"airarapa service, the Manawatu line and other things, and a deputation \yas set up to wait on the Acting-Ministor for Railways. Today the deputation was in Wellington and placed theso matters before Hon. Col, Pitt.

The Miuister, in reply.said it Lad to lie borne in miud tU'ut Uic railway system liiid to be conducted on business principles, Already concessions amounting to over :i milhou sterling had been made, and railway rates were now cheaper than in any other Colony, and cheaper than in England. The deputation had presented matters in n light which previously had not occurred to him. He did no! propose to give delinitc answers at that moment, as lie would like to look carefully over the resolutions of the conference. With reference to placing a dining car on the Nnpicr-Wondvillc scction, lie thought the deputation had forgotten that there were refreshment rooms along the line, and besides, it. would mean another engine. In regurd to railway employees involved in departmental inquiries, being represented at the inquiry by one of their own societies, be was recently waited upon by a deputation fro n the Amalgamated Society of Hallway Servants, and that was one of the matters submitted. At all these inquiries the evidence of witnesses was taken down in writing, and the person accused had the right to cross-examine and to call any witnesses and there <Vus also the right to appeal. He would confer with (lie General Mannger and send this reply in writing, to the mutters placed before him.