RAILWAY WAGONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1920, Page 4

RAILWAY WAGONS.

SCARCITY IN NEW ZEALAND. DIFFICULT TO PROCURE MORE. (By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. A question Was asked of the Prime Minister by,.Mr. Side.v in. the House today regarding supplies of railway rolling stock. Mr. Sidev said that the Minister must be aware that the business of the country was being seriously hampered for lack of rolling stock for the railways. Would the Prime Minister state what steps were Being taken to deal with the situation? Mr. Massey said that he was aware that there was a serious shortage of rolling stock, especially of wagons, and that a great deal of inconvenience was being occasioned to city and country people in consequence.: The position a"t present was due "to the lack of supplies coming forward during the whole <jf the war period, when it had been impossible to fulfil the complete rolling stock programme. Since the war there had been a tremendous demand for manufactures. Some time ago the Department had asked for tenders in England, the tenders to he returnable on the ISth of last month. Those tenders hail been so unsatisfactory that the time had been extended to September 10, «nd ho believed that now other firms intended to lender for rolling stock. The .Department was asking also for tenders in this country, but what the result would be it was hard to say The amount of rolling stock that was being asked for by tenders in this way was outside of the amount that could be manufactured in the Department's own workshops -in this country.