RAILWAY REQUESTS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 221, 17 September 1919, Page 7

RAILWAY REQUESTS.

AXU MIX 1 y<s GO-SLOW. (B.v Telegraph.— Special to "Star.") WELLIXGTOX, Tuesday. From all parts of the llouee came requests for further information, »i!ul picas for greater fafil'tics when the • I'remier Announced the improved passenger services to-day. Mr. Anderson inquired what goods' restrictions remained, and whether material for soldiers' hoi'-es could be carried? Mr. Mamey said all restrictioni*! on the carriage of material for sol lien-,'] homo? were removed, while committees in ea.'h centre attended to permits fur ordinary goods ! Mr. Poland: Is there any relaxation mi the "•cut" on die Tliamed-T"rnnkton line?! It is an awful service. I Mr. Masscy replied that he had discussed it with the General Manager, who promised to see what could be done.! Mr. Holland inquired whether the r.iil-j way service would likely he affected by the closing down of the coal mines. Had the Government, in view of its serious consequences on railway services, yet considered the matter of calling a compulsory conference of owners and mineral Sir. Massey declared that the go-slow policy in the mines had seriouel" , affected the running of the railways. If the New Zealand output of coal was normal he would guarantee to replace the whole railway service in one week. Mr. Holland: You made the "cut - ' before the go-slow policy started.

Mr. Massey: I know, but fllthough t!ie; supply of overeeas coal has grvßtly in-1 eroasod, the local coal supply ha* been' seriously reduced, and we have to I>o careful while the go-slow laets. Mr. Holland: What about a compulsory conference? j MY. Mnesey: A conference which is! compulsory will be of little or no value. | ;T understand the owners made -nn offor, which is still open, and T hope the men will see their way to accept it. j MINISTER PROMISES STATEMENT. I •Mr. Ell desired to lenow if it was true,! as had been published, that the New Zea-j land coal output showed a shortage of l."»,() 00 tons for a fortnight, and what: effect would such a shortage have on' poor people? | The Hon. Fniser replied that he k.iew nothing about the statement published, lie received his information from the Department, and that information did not deal in tons of coal short. Returns' from the State coal mince showed that one output was S3 nor cent, below normal, and at the other 33 per cent.l <lle promised to later on obtain exact information for the 'benefit of the House. Mr. Jennings asked the Minister if lie would table a. report received about prospects of a coal mine at Mokan, and also sought information about details of liie purchase of a mine near Pukemiro.' To thus Mr. Fraser replied that he had not seen the Mokau report, as he only recently took over the Department, lie promised, however, that the gist of the report should be eupplied to the public.