RAILWAY COMMITTEE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17617, 21 November 1922, Page 4

RAILWAY COMMITTEE.

ORDINARY MEETING.

; The Canterbury District Railway Committee met yesterday • when there wero present: Messrs H- J. Marriner (chairman), W. Stringleman, H. Holland, W. H. Nicholson, J. B. Mitchell (District Traffic Manager), F. A. Grant and J. Mason (Railway commercial representatives), and Mr P. R. Climie (secretary)./ ' . . ~.^

The chairman extended a hearty welcome to Mr J. B. Mitchell, District Railway Traffic Manager.

Mr Mitchell returned thanks and said that every case brought before him would, be given sympathetic consideration. He would., have'.pleasure in giving the committed every, assistance in his power. '.'■''■■ Mr Climie mentioned a. complaint that had been made regarding the inconvenience caused by: the despatch of the Ashburtoh train: from the south platform at the Christohurch railway , station.'

Mr' Mitchell said' that the matter was ,being considered and there wore improvements under : consideration, but it was perhaps yet too, early to make a pronouncement on the subject. At a previous meeting a deputation representative of the builders waited upon the committee with a request that the'rate and a-half .freight on imEorted timber should be reduced. Mr >. Reese, at the invitation of the comattended to explain the views of. the sawmillers on the question. : Mr Reese said that the rate and a-half was ; a preference to New Zealand timber which should be continued. If people wanted; foreign timbers they should ,pay for them. The preference rate was not confined to the Railway Department, and he did not think , it should be'thrown aside. The Government'regulation regarding kauri had made most of the timber merchants look for their market within New Zealand. The industry was in a pretty serious position, and it required all the assistance it could obtain.

A letter was also received- from Capt. R. Macintosh Ellis, Director State Forest Service, stating that the matter of rates on foreign timber was, one of high political policy and one upon winch he did not care to express an opinion. He advised the committee to address the Minister of forestry qirect on the subject. The committee agreed that as the matter "of timber rates was one of political policy, it had no recommendation to make. a

Mn Climie presented a summary of the report upon the lepresentations made to the committee at tho recent sitting at Methven. Mr s Mitchell said that the report had been forwarded to the Chief Traffic Manager. ■ • ■ * The competition offered to the railways by motoi services was discussed, and it was agreed that a recommendation be made to the Department to the effect that a petrol-driven carriage be placed at the 'disposal of the District Traffic Manager, who couiu it on various b'raricn lines with a viewto' ascertaining whether such a system of transport would pay tho Department-

Mr Grant reported that he and his colleague (Air Mason) had been through the whole of the North Island, and the greater part of tho South Island since their appointment. They had received • a very cordial reception from the various business men whom they had met, and they were hopeful that their appointment would result in a benefit to the Department. Mr Mason said that he had been impressed with the very fair spirit with which: the members of the District Railway Committee were imbued. There was no carping criticism of the Department and there appeared to be a very real desire to assist thc«e in charge of the railways. Several members expressed warm appreciation of the improvement made in the Lytteltoh-Christchurch ferry train service, and it was unanimously agreed to forward a resolution of appreciation to the General Manoeer.