PERISHABLE PRODUCE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10708, 31 August 1912, Page 6

PERISHABLE PRODUCE

ITS OAIUHAGK OX THE BAILWAYS.

Mr W C Buchanan, M.l> introduced to' the Minister of Railways (the Hon W. H. Herries) on Thursday a deputation of representative.* or freezing and shipping companies ni<wed in the export trade. "Mr W. G. lister the Minister on varions matte- He said I that on, thins which need d to bo offected *•«»«»«> roßulatioiiolt 10 traN fic at Glasgow Wharf and Queens Wharf. Another point was the late run in" of trains. Ho understood „o\ IVul deal of the delay was ( , ulS ed through produce and stork trains being delayed to pick up ordinary goods. The deputation- suggested that trains carrying meat and perishable produce should not ho delayled for other classes of •- traffic Ml iKorter remarked that in the South Island the Railway Department discharged tnfeks at its own cost, -hut Inarch was not the case the Vorth Island. Ho suggested that the southern allowance should apply to the north. . , Mr W C. Buchanan said that the shortage of trucks complaint applied to trucks for live stock as well as to trucks for frozen meat. As tar as they could understand the probable reason for the shortage was not so much the number of trucks as the want of engine power, and that shortage of engine power had led to an undue number of engines being under repair when ■ they were most wanted, in the busy season. There was no doubt at all, also, thai amongst the staff the, importance of pushing forward frozen meat, dairv produce, and live stock was not .sufficiently attended to—Hint perishable goods wore .sometimes left at wayside stations when other classes of gords should have been delayed instead. Dairy companies were suoposed 1"» deliver their produce to the shipping companies in the very host condition—the same condition as that in which if left the factory. Unfortunately, this was not always carried'out, pud he would be glad' to furnish the Minister with evidence to that effect. Exposure to heat while on trucks in the. •innnier time and in the autumn damaged the produce.

Mr Hcrries thanked the deputation for putting +>-~ ~-~ before' him. because the gentlemen who formed deputation were conversant with the subject and knew th<\ faults of the Department! He Mould never, probably, hear the faults from the Department itself. It seemed to him that some of the faults could be easily remedied —such faults as dirty trucks. It .seemed to him that trucks should not be allowed to go out in a

dirty condition, and lie hoped that ilia t fan! t. was not goner si 1. He would see that a proper number of. trucks

for frozen produce was built

course, they could not build thorn in a day. At present it was difficult to fret iron qn account of the strikes in England, and that had caused delay in the Department's building operations. Ten or a dozen engines were being constructed, mostly at Addingtrui, but some at Price's works at Thames. After dealing with the other points raised. Mr Herries said that lie would look into the matters.