MINISTER OF RAILWAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 135, 9 June 1910, Page 2

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS.

lj£[_ DEPUTATIONS. ■ {?• — A deputation comprising Messrs. J. B. Tonar, J.Johns, T. AL Shepherd, and G. Parrish, was introduced to the iEnister of Railways (the Hon. J. A. Millar) this morning by Mr Alex. Alison, to ask dor facilities for sending strawberries between Auckland and Wellington by the 3dain Trunk Express.

Mr Tonar mentioned that last year '£10,000 worth, of straw berries was bandied, and this year he expe-c-ted that would be doubled. By being cut off from the ■Wellington market the growers suffered »;on=idembly. Formerly the fruit was sent by the -west coast service, but this had been ■withdraTvn. It -was impossible xo send the fruit by the goods trains, as the hours at which they ran meant a twelve hours' delay at both Auckland and Wellington. The offer of the Department to give a van if the growers paid £22 would result in a loss, as the growers could not ship the fruit in wet weather. The deputation would like the Department to provide two or three days a week a van or half a van for the conveyance of perishaile fruit. -Vlessrs. Johns and Shepherd also supported the request. The Minister said he would like to meet the deputation, but he was afraid nothing could be done. The offer of the Department to give the growers a truck at .£22 was the lowest they could make, as it was just about the actual cost of ■haulage. The engines could not have, more than they had at present. He pointed out that tie strawberry months coincided with the busy pasaenjrer season, and the Department could noi spare any room in the goods van. At present the fresh fruit was being carried at a loss. He would have the matter lookec , . into again and let the deputation know the result, but he was afraid he could not hold out much hope. ; TTET/EXSTILLE LINE SUBURBAN •SERVICE. 3Tr. Bollard, (\LiP_, introduced a large aeputation from the Avondale, New !Lynn, and: adjacent districts, asking for an improved train service on the Helensville line. -Sir. Bollard pointed out how the district had gone ahead, but was much, hampered "by the inadequate service. The station 'buildings were also obsolete. Mr. J. Gardner '(New Lynn) said he did not altogether "blame the Department, but the district had grown so abnormally. The New Lynn station was simply a Mr" A. Grandison said the income from Niew Lynn, was between £12,000 and £15.000." and it was time it was raised from the position of a flag station. I LNtany accidents had happened there through sheer neglect of 'the Department. He was glad to see that an early train was being put on, and would ask another Sunday train. Rev. 8.. <x. Bole.r advocated New •Lynn's claims, particularly in regard to catering for the goods 'traffic.

3lr. Robertson asked for the extension cf the early -workers' train from Henderson to Swanson.

■Mr. Ademson. advocated the improvement of the Avondale service- __ Mr. Seabrook urged that the "time had arrived to appoint a stationmaster at Kpw Tjvrut. 'Mr. C. Gardner (New XcnmV asked for a generally improved service, particularly ifor the workers' needs.

Mr. ■MeGiUvray also supported an improvement. • - Mr. Bollard remarked that they had- a good deal to bo thankful for when they compared conditions of a few years ago. The settlement along the line vras -being done by -workers, and it was genuine. There was no speculation about it. He ■would ask the' Minister -to take into consideration a new station and goods ehed at New T.ttiti, improvement of Waikumete station, ne>w station and goods shed at Henderson, and a more -convenient service to Swanson in 'the morning and evening. If the Department could not grant another Sunday train, the present one should go on to Henderson instead of standing at Waikumete.

The Minister said the matter of improving the Auckland suburban service ■was under consideration. Before the deputation had arrived the Department had decided on the alteration of New Lynn, and possibly provision of a goods shed. He could not promise a stationmaster. At Henderson the engine shed ■would be shifted, and the present shed nsed for goods. With regard to Swanson they were asking for an extension of the "suburban area," and he could not agree to it. The defendant was now losing thousands of pounds by people taking tickets to the last station on the suburban area and then another ticket to their destination. Attempts were, however, being taken to check this practice. The lines must pay. He did not say that every train must pay. but the section must before extra facilities were granted. On the Helensville line every mile the train ■went it seemed to get •worse. It was now 40 miles up from Helensville, and the effect so far was such as "to make him consider. With regard to quickening the service and -workers' trains, it must be remembered that the workers from all the sections had to be brought into town by eight o'clock, and the trains had to be run with regard to the block system at the Parnell tunnel. Mr. Gardner: Why not bring the Holensville trains in via Ponsonby? The Minister: That is only a little matter of a quarter of a million. Speaking -with regard to Sunday trains, he was against them on -principle, but would look into the matter. He promised some minor improvements at Swanson and also to look into the question of fencing the line.

The adjourned meeting for the hearing iof the case between tie hotel employees and hotel-keepers commenced this morning, before the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr P. HaHy). The assessors for the Union were MessTS. G. Phillips, E. Milli-ga-n. and E. Kuami, and for ±he licensed Victuallers, Messrs. T.. Mo-Boy, J. Kolleston. and J. Mormon, and for the Union HiSx 'T. Tioiig appeared, and for the Licensed Victuallers 3lr J. S. Palmer, Very satisfactory progress "was made this morninsr, and although, the "wages of the hands has not yet foen considered, a definition of the hands Jiss r Deen agreed upon, to the satisfaction of both parties.

Slessrs. T. MfiTßJeno Jackson sell by pntxlic BnetioK at their rooms, Custorus-jtreet, at 2 o'clock to-morrow, in the estate of tiie late ilartin Day, 123 acres 2 roods and 30 perciies, with frontage to sandy beach, at Cowes Bay, "Waiheke; also i acre section send cottage of 4 rooms, Cleveoon-roafl, Ota3>nTro. and 1-3 acre section and 8-roomect i&ireHins in Hnla-road, Otahnhn; at Panmureroad and Artlinr-street,. .EUersUe, vaJnable blnck of land having a frontage of 264 ft. by ; JflSft- and another block baring a frontage J of SSafi- to Arthnr-street, by ISSft (if not i sold tn one iot wiSX be .subznitted in 6 lots); I tvn> of live and four rooms respec- { Hrrt>. hartns 33 by .100, NorXolk-Ktroet, I Fixj+micn cml a eeOon frontage of < <K£L. A 3Si*rjrt» Arrzvxu. E9psas&