THE MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 3, 28 January 1909, Page 3

THE MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS

' HON. J. A. MILLAR )N NEW ■PLYMOUTH. Tihe new Minister of Railways, Hon. <J. A. Millar, passed through New Plymouth, last night for the first time since his appointment. He was met at the (railway station by Mr. H. Okev, MJP. THE "GOVERNMENT STROKE." In the course of a. chat with a "Daily News" representative, the .Minister referred to the Aldington workshops affair. He said that rigorous enquiries 'had been made with a. view of ascertaining who had divulged to the Press the 'contents of the General Manager's cir'eular. A the time of its receipt the ■engineer ia charge was there only temporarily, in tho absence of the permairent official. He had copies of the circular made and sent to the foremen in H,he- different departments. Every one of these had signed a declaration to "the effect that he had not been the 'means of the contents of the circular getting lieyond the circle for which it \vas intended. The. Minister added 'that by the publication of the circular a slur had been cast upon all the workers, good and bad alike. But an outside enquiry had been ordered into the 'whole matter. The returns showing the cost of production would afford the best evidence, of whether or not the "Government stroke" existed as alleged. If that cost were too high,*then that was not 'the fault of the men, but of the foremen and others ill charge, ' TIIK TIME-TABLE. 1 As published elsewhere, Mr. Millar 'gave an assurance that our mail train time-table would n ot be altered by the running of the Main Trunk service. •NOT THE ONLY PEBBLE."

The Minister said that one of the ma titers that took him to Auckland was the stir that was being made by Mr. Massey in consequence of his (the .Minister's) decision to discontinue the running of u train to his district, Tltis train, be explain, carried an average of ten passen,gers. In the nast four months it had 'travelled 5500 miles and earned Cl.'it. 'He did not intend to continue to run 'such trains as that. "Mr. Massey ,is not the only pebble on the beach," be said, adding that the cessation of six 'unremunerative services had been ordcrvd. He. was determined '" his endeavor to make the railways, iwv for themselves. Jle believed that the users of the railways should lie made to pa : . for 'them. Of course, it was urged that the railways were for the public benefit, but the' general public was being too ■heavily drained for the upkeep of the 'facilities/for passenger traffic. PORT LINE CHARGES. Mr. Okey said that the. local business people wished to bring More the Minister the matter of the excessive freight tharges between sse\y Plymouth and the port, and it was intimated that the Hon. Millar intended visiting New Plymouth in about three weeks' time, when he would 1 be prepared to go into this matter. He learned with surprise the nature of the impost upon imports through New Plymouth, and seemed scarcely able to' credit the fact that goods could be railed more cheaply from •the ship to Tnglewood than from the 6hip to the New Plymouth goods sin .1. THE RAILWAY DEVIATION.

I It was also gathered that the lands '•made available by the railway devia.jtjon. yolihl be offered for sale in the {course ot a few weeks. mih STREET F.XTEXTTOX. Another matter that lie said would irt)g*ge his intention upon his visit here tlie matter of the suggc-tted extension of Gil) street along railway land to connect witlt St. Aubyn street.