Wairarpa Times-Age SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1938. RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 May 1938, Page 6

Wairarpa Times-Age SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1938. RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS.

yet appeals, to the Railways Department to give early and serious attention to the improvement of facilities for handling goods at the Masterton Railway Station appear to have fallen on deaf ears. A very good case appears to be made out, however, for providing the items of equipment suggested by Masterton carriers and others with a .practical knowledge of goods traffiic—particularly a modern and reasonably powerful crane in place of the old and rather feeble one now in use, and a ismall shunting unit.

Apparently the Department is “standing pat” on the position it took up some time ago when it declared that the volume of traffic offering at Masterton was not sufficient to warrant the installation of a crane more powerful than the one at present in use at the station. That opinion is directly challenged by men who are engaged in the business of taking goods to and from the station. Additional testimony on the subject was given by Mr G. L. Thomas, secretary of the Wairarapa Licensed Transport Federation, in observations reported in our news columns yesterday. Mr Thomas stated that from the standpoint of his federation, a crane capable of lifting four tons should be installed at the station and that a small shunting unit should also be provided. In the opinion of carriers and others with a practical knowledge of what is entailed, the provision of these items of equipment would make for economy in the handling of goods and would tend also to draw additional traffic to the railway. As against the statement of the Department that the traffic offering at Masterton does not warrant the installation of a more powerful crane, specific evidence is offered Of instances in which consignments of heavy goods have had to be unloaded in detail, at heavy additional cost, when they might instead have been lifted by crane to a motor vehicle had a crane powerful enough been available. Evidence is available also of heavy loads, such as pantechnicon consignments of furniture, having been taken by road to Wellington because no reasonably convenient means existed of placing them on a truck at the station. Men with an expert ancl. familiar knowledge of the position are emphatic in declaring that the provision of a small shunting unit would expedite and facilitate very considerably the handling of goods at Masterton. Apart from questions of efficiency and economy in the handling of the present volume of traffic passing through the station, it is obvious that the installation of adequate equipment at Masterton and other loading and unloading points is an essential means of attracting the greatest possible volume of traffic to the railways. Unless it is able to demolish the plain case made out in favour of providing the items of up-to-date equipment asked for, the Department evidently will be open to the charge of standing in its on n light. Adequate equipment is needed in stations hke Masterton, not only in order that traffic now offering may be handled economically and expeditiously, but as an essential means of enabling the Department to play its full part in bringing about an effective co-ordination nt road and rail traffic. A COMMENDABLE EFFORT. JMIANKS to the energy and enterprise with which, it was launched, and to the generous manner in which it is being taken up and supported by organisations throughout the district, and responded to by the public, the appeal in the Wairarapa on behalf of Hawke’s Bay flood sufferers seems likely to serve its purpose extremely well.’ 1 here is every assurance of a substantial sum being raised to be forwarded to the Mayor of Napier to augment his relief fund, but there is need of all the money that can be gathered in, for the Hawke’s Bay flood occasioned serious and widespread devastation, not a little of it permanent, and at best will leave in its wake heavy losses and a greatdeal of hardship. Since the Wairarapa effort centres on the ball to be held in the Masterton Municipal Hall on Tuesday next, the time remaining in which to build up the relief fund is short. The ball is merely a means to an end. It will impose no charge on the relief fund, the whole of the usual expenses having been contributed. The sale of tickets at five shillings each offers a ready means to dancers and non-dancers alike of making their contribution in a cause that must awaken universal sympathy. The aim should be, as the Mayor of Masi erf on (Mr T. jordan) has suggested, to make a generous finish.