SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 276, 18 May 1912, Page 5

SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS

TO BE REMEDIED. : By Telegraph—Pr«M AMMutiwa. Dunedin, Last Night. In connection with the representation# which have been placed before the Hon. Mr. Myers, Minister of Railways, during his visit to the South Island, in reference to tho shortage of trucks, the Minister informed a reporter to-day that it had been arranged that Mr. Piper, senior I traffic manager of the Hurunui-BlufT section, should leave to-morrow for- the north for the purpose of conferring with Mr. Stringleman, district traffic manager at Christchurch, with a view of a meeting of representatives from the various shipping interests and others interested in the shortage of trucks, the object being to remove the existing grounds of complaint, by doing everything possible to ■minimise the present inconvenience and congestion of traffic. In the meantime, in addition to 323 waggons at present building, and which it is expected will be on ;he road within the next four months, every expedition is being used in regard to further improving matters by increasing the size of the present waggons, and raising their holding capacity from six to eight tons. The Minister is hopeful that there will be less justification in the future for complaints of the same nature. RAILWAY MATTERS. Dunedin, Last Night. The Hon. A. M. Myers, who returned from Invercargill litis morning, was waited on by two deputations. The first, representing Green Island and Mosgiel residents, urged a better train service to Mosgiel, and several other improvements of a minor nature. Mr. Myers promised a better train service, but indicated that the other requests would have to stainl down, owing to other and more urgent requirements. Another deputation urged the prosecution of the Otago Central :>.nd Lawrence-Roxburgh railways. The Minister promised to give careful consideration to the matter when it came before the Cabinet. He intended going into the question of petrol engines, as some portions of the country would not justify the hu'iitL' down of heavy lines.