ANTIQUATED CRANE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 April 1938, Page 7

ANTIQUATED CRANE

MASTERTON RAILWAY STATION FACILITIES. BUSINESS FIRMS SERIOUSLY HANDICAPPED. In spite of representations that have been made on several occasions in the past, the Masterton Railway Station still possesses a crane totally inadequate to handle heavy consignments. The crane, which, it is stated, was installed when the line was opened, is capable of lifting only two tons and its operation, which is painfully slow and is carried out by means of a hand lever, requires two or three men to deal with a maximum load. When a load heavier than two tons has to be handled, rollers and log jacks have to be brought into use, while in some instances, lai-ge cases of heavy weight have had to be unloaded on the trucks and repacked again. Many Masterton business firms are seriously handicapped by the lack of adequate lifting facilities at the station, which incidentally not only adds considerably to the cost of handling goods, but prevents an effective and harmonious coordination of rail and road services.

Applications made for the installation of a more efficient, up-to-date crane capable of lifting heavier loads have been made repeatedly. About a year ago an official, it is stated, promised to have a new crane installed, but it has never arrived. About six months ago the Wairarapa Carriers’ Federation made a further request, but the only reply forthcoming was that the' question had been gone into before. The previous decision was to the effect that there was insufficient business in Masterton to warrant the installation of a larger crane. As long as the present inadequate crane remains in use, in many cases it is more expeditious and more economical to carry heavy goods by road rather than by rail.