SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 76, 28 March 1908, Page 7

SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS.

DEPUTATION TO THE. PREMD3R.

The much-discussed question of the supply of trucks on the Auckland, railways was brought under the notice of the Premier by a deputation headed by Mr. E. W. Alison, M.P., and including Messrs. L. J. Bagnall, Geo. Winstone, C. Rhodes, and W. J; Ralph. Complaints were made by several speakers of the interference with business caused by the. lack of rolling stock on the Waikato, it being stated that business was greatly interfered with by the difficulty in securing trucks. Mr. Manning, representing the miners, stated that the men were only working about eight days a fortnight, owing to there being no trucks to take the coal away. He considered that the Railway Department v.-ere the greatest sinners, because trucks were frequently allowed to stand loaded from 4 p.m. one day to 8.30 a.m. the next. Mr. Rhodes stated that the Waihi Company required SOO to 1.000 tons of coal a week, but, being unable to obtain sufficient Taupiri coal owing to the insufficiency of trucks, they had to obtain sea-borne coal at double the expense. Mr. Ralph said that the company could not fulfil its orders owing to the shortage of trucks, and suggested that the difficulty could be overcome by the running of special coal trains. Mr. Alison stated that if bins had to be provided, the cost to the consumer, by reason of deterioration and cost of handling, would be 3/6 a ton, and it was not right that the people should be penalised because of the failure of the Railway Department.

[ In reply, Sir Joseph declared that the root of the evil had not been touched upon. If the Department doubled the trucks and engine power the company would not get out of a position which arose through the company trying to turn the coal mines into immediate feeders of the railway line. Under-the present system it was impossible for them to do everything that every body wanted. He pointed out that if vessels coming in from overseas sought to discharge their coal direct into trucks, there would be delays of a week to a fortnight with every vessel, and similar complaints to that now The suggestion of Mr. Ralph's as to special trains would mean that two engines and j a string of trucks and two engines would have to be kept waiting at thY mine, until the trucks were filled. In i justice to the rest of New Zealand, that! would not be fair, or to the other coal, companies. To provide what was suggested would require 4SO trucks and several engines, which would cost about £400,000, and this for a total freight of £40,000. The provision of time 'so that trucks could be more rapidly loaded would help the difficulty. The Department could not provide the rolling stock to. which be had referred, and be suggested that the company should buy i its own trucks, and the Department | would guarantee to haul them away, in sixes or sevens, as soon as filled. They would take away 1,000. tons a day if | tbe company filled the trucks.

Mr. Ralph said that the Department was only taking half their output.

Sir Joseph: Simply because you expect the Department to provide your bins. The . Department would provide special trains, but the company would have to pay the special rates demanded in all cases. Sir Joseph said that he would do one of three things. Tbe Department would do its best under existing conditions ; secondly, if the company provided the wagons, the Department, would haul them whenever they were filled; and thirdly, if they put on special trains the Department would provide them to £i: able the company to do its buiness. '

Mr. Ralp-h: That is worth consideration.

Sir Joseph further pointed out that the Auckland trucks were, carrying 20| cwt. per day less than the trucks on other systems. He also stated that there was no shortage of hauling power, and that within the last eight years the Government had increased the hauling capacity of its stock by 9,450.000 tons a year.