“WORST KNOWN”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 160, 19 April 1947, Page 4

“WORST KNOWN”

SHORTAGE OF RAIL WAGONS THIS SEASON SOME IMPROVEMENT IN POSITION .** 4 Generally by thi£ time of the year the Railway Department has managed to contain the demand for railway wagons for carting grain. But not so this year. “It is the worst season I have known,” commented Mr G. H. Wilson (wagon supply .officer of the Railway Department, Ashburton). “We have never had an adequate supply of wagons to meet orders,” he said yesterday. At the peak of the season the Department was no fewer * than 951 trucks short of requirements in the district. A survey on March 12 showed this number of wagons to be outstanding. A further review of the position made on Thursday evening indicated some improvement, but the outlook is still far from normal. On Thursday evening 406 more wagons were needed than could be supplied, said Mr Wilson. The last summary made, on April 3, showed a shortage of 635. The “wastage” of wagons, due to the failure of some consignees to facilitate a speedy turn-round, and the unusually heavy demands for shipping, were factors contributing to the shortage for grain traffic. Heavy Demands for Shipping In support of his reference to shipping, Mr Wilson said that at the present time he had to service 11 ships at Timaru and Lyttelton. A few wagons, he added, were becoming available as inward supplies of lime from Oamaru and Pleasant Point were unloaded. Also a few meat wagons had become available, and they were very useful as they took a big load of grain. They were concerned at the possibility of farmers having grain standing in the paddock at this time of the year when there was a likelihood of bad weather with doubtful drying conditions following, he emphasised. A lot of grain, he added, was nevertheless stored in farmers’ own sheds or in railway sheds. As to when the position might return to normal, Mr Wilson said any statement would simply be a guess, which in all probability would be. wrong. The most acute shortage of wagons still exists on the Methven-Rakaia branch line, where the Railway Department is 226 behind. The worst point on the line is Rakaia, requiring 59' trucks, with Lauriston next needing 40. At Hinds some 42 wagons are awaited. Seven sidings are still blocked by the Railway Department because of failure to cope with wagons already there. Two of these are at Lyttelton, two at Timaru, one at Christchurch, one at Dunedin and one at Oamaru.