THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1919, Page 5

THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

MR. WILKINSON, M.P., HITS OUT. At a meeting of the Eltham Chamber of Commerce test week, Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., said the railway services were of vital importance to 'Eltham—more so than to any other town in Taranaki, and he considered that the Chamber should convene a meeting of every Chamber of Commerce in Taranaki to take this matter up and to urge upon the Government the inauguration of a partial sen-ice. If the position remained as at present they would lose n lot of business—which would go to Haweraand Stratford. The Minister of Railways seemed to be stupidly obsessed with the idea that they wanted the total resumption of the railway services. This could be gathered by anyone reading the copies of the telegrams published in the press. He considered- the matter of such importance as to warrant them sending a deputation to Wellington. A little while ago a deputation of members of Parliament waited upon the Government to obtain information of ths real position. They were told at thai meeting that the. slocks of coal.had been steadily running down for two or three years. He ha<] asked the Minister why, in'these circumstances, he had reinstated the double express between Auckland and Wellington, Wellington and Auckland, Duncdiu and Christelmrch, and Christchurch and Dunedin, and also why he had reinstated "race trains," and the Minister had signally failed to give him an answer. Then they had a general manager to whom they paid £3OOO per year—he was running'about the defence camps, holding the rank of colonel. Did they pny him £3OOO a year for that? They were dependent upon coal for their power, and yet in n country where coal is so plentiful this most essential department had not control of a mine to maintain their supplies. Whea the restrictions were imposed the carriage of beer was prohibited. Hew long had that regulation remained in force? Only a few davs. If the trade could obtain this concession, could not the people of Taranaki also obtain concessions? A department in a condition such as he had described wanted cleaning up! No less than 4300 tons of coal had been landed in New Plymouth during the past few weeks—more than the normal supplies. The dredge Paritntu, in New Plymouth harbor, was running under full steam, and her bunkers were full of coal. He had always been a staunch supporter of the Now Plvmonth harbor proposals, but considered that at the present time this coal would l>e of greater service to the Railway Department. He had seen the coal ianded at New Plymouth, and knew that it was suitable for the purpose. It was steam coal and was not dust. He was a supporter of the Government, but he considered that if the present Minister of Railways could not bring about some improvement in the situation he should give place to a man who could.— Argus.