GOODS BY RAILWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 151, 29 June 1927, Page 11

GOODS BY RAILWAY.

THAMES SVPPORT PROMISED.

A well-attended meeting of Thames business men was held at the Thames County Council Chambers to hear an address by Mr. A. W. Wellsted, railway business agent, in connection with the Department's campaign for increased goods traffic.

Mr. Wellsted said that when the reduction was made for merchandise on the Thames-Auckland line from 35/ to 25/ a ton it was thought that it would mean a considerable increase in the quantity of goods handled by the railway. The expectation of the Department in this connection had not been realised, and it had become a matter for serious consideration whether the reduced rate should remain in force. The Department realised that in these days ofv'keen competition it was essential that regular and expeditious transport should be given. In order to bring this desired result arrangement had been made whereby goods consigned at Auckland up to 4 p.m. would be delivered at Thames the following afternoon. Recently the Department had acceded to the request for the special carriage of mails by the early morning steam rail car, and it considered that due reciprocity was called for on the part of those who h*<* benefited by this further evidence oT the Department to foster the interests of the business community. The railway men's wages at Thames amounted to £5000 annually, and was a good and sufficient reason, apart from other considerations, for a fuller measure of patronage of the railwny goods service by Thames business people.

The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to Mr. Wellsted and premises from all present to accord- the Department a fair measure of their support.