RAILWAY MATTERS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17740, 17 April 1923, Page 11

RAILWAY MATTERS.

DEPARTMENTAL MANAGERS CONSULTED. A meeting of the Railway Commit tee of the Canterbury Progress League wa3 held last night. Present —Messrs 11. J. Marriner (chairman), 11. Holland, W. Stringleman, J. B. Mitchell, and P. K. Climie. Mr R. McVilly, General Manager of Railways, along with Messrs' 11. Buxton, Chief Traffic Manager, E. E. Gillon, Chief Mechanical Engineer, and F. McLean, Chief Engineer ; pf Rail-, ways, were also present at the meeting. General Manager's Statement. The chairman welcomed Mr McVilly and his confreres, and stated that the work of the committee was to hear complaints with regard to the railways, and to enquire into them. If they found real grievances, they were passed on with recommendations to tho Department. He assured the visitors that the committee did not aim at harassing the Department. Its objective was to assist it as much as possible. Mr Holland also extended a welcome to the visitors, as did Mr P. R. Climie. Mr McVilly thanked members for their welcome, and assured the committee that it was a pleasure to be with them. The committee, he said, could be of the greatest help to the Department. They were an impartial body and got to the bedrock of a case which private persons putting forward claims did not do. He said that the committee was closely in touch with the traffic branch of the Department as far as local matters were concerned. It was the duty of everyone to do his best for the public. The railways were really owned by the people, and he, as General Manager of' Railways, was really trustee for the £40,000,000 which had been expended on the railways. His duty was, however, to see that overy section of the public received the fair treatment due to it. Speaking of the adaption of the motor to the railways, he said that experiments were being conducted all over the world, and New Zealand was not behind-hand in this respect. So far as the New Zealand experiments were concerned, they had proved unsatisfactory. However, further experiments wero being made with internal combustion engines, but the Department was waiting to see how these trials resulted, and they were endeavouring . to save themselves expense and proiit by the experience of others. Application for Stock Train. The Cheviot County Council wrote stating that at a special meeting of ratepayers of that district, it had beon decided to request the Railway Department to run a special "Wednesday train servico from November to May. The matter was referred to the District Traffic Manager of JRailways. A Dangerous Crossing. A letter was received from the United Burgesses Association protesting against the statement to tho effect that the Glandovey road railway crossing was now in a safe state for traffic. It contended that conditions were still dangerous. Mr Climie said that the statement complained of was unfoundod, and the committee had not mqde any such assertion. The committee had visited the spot, and had expressed pleasure that trees growing near the crossing had been cut down to a certain extent. The chairman stated that the proposition was an old one, and was just a matter of motorists driving across tho lino without looking to see if a train were approaching. It was decided to refer the matter to tho local body concerned, with a recommendation to have tho trees growing near the crossing cut down. An Irregular Service. • The secretary of the C.F.M. Branch of the Canterbury Freezing Workers' Union wrote asking the committee to tako steps to have the train running . between Belfast and Christchureh & tho evenings run more regularly to time-table, and stating that tho train often did not reach its destination until 6.30 or 6.45 p.m. It was decided to refer the matter to the District Traffic Manager of Railways. Christchurcli-Kaiapoi Service. The North Canterbury Co-operative Freezing Company wrote asking that tho train leaving Christchureh for Kaiapoi and arriving at the last-named town at 8.3 a.m. should be advanced to arrive at Kaiapoi before 8 a.m., in order to allow workers travelling by that train to gain the privilege of workers' concession rates. Mr McVilly stated that the Department had been approached in the matter two years ago, but had been unable to agree to the advancement in tho timetable of the train. He had then asked the manager of the Kaiapoi Freezing Company to guarantee 50 passengers for the train. The guarantee had not been forthcoming. The queshad really arisen through tho workmen having to pay for an ordinary weekly ticket at a rate <of 8s instead of the workers' concession ticket at 3s 3d. Tl~ .alteration of the service would uicuiivenience the Belfast people, who would be landed at their work, too early. He explained that the regulations had been made to suit tho majority of the people, and by them both the Department and the people who used the railways must abide. Already demands had been made to extend the workers' concession hour from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m. If this were done it would cost the Department thousands of pounds. Mr Marriner: If we secured a guar- [ antee of 50 passengers daily for the train under a revised timetable, would you consider advancing the hour of the train's departure? Mr Holland: I think some movement should be made to meet these men. Mr McVilly: The arrangement of the train service has been made to meet the requirements of the district. If it is altered it will not suit it, and we cannot try to meet the case of every separate individual. It was deeided to write to the Kaiapoi freezing works explaining the position, and asking if a guarantee of 50 passengers per day for the train running under an amended schedule could be given. Trucks for Fanners. Mr P. R. Climie stated that for some considerable time past disputes had arisen bt-Vjveen farmers regarding trucks consigned to them by the Department. He stated that a farmer often ordered a truck or two, which was duly shunted off by the Department at the required siding. Another farmer came along who also wanted trucks, and who had ordered them. He. removed the ticket on the truck bearing the name of the person who had ordered tho truck and claimed it for himself. The other man came along and there was :i dispute which very often terminated in a fight. At present trucks were ordered in all sorts of fashions. Some were requested by phone, some by letter, etc. He thought that if the Department could make some regulation whereby each truck was given to the

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man who had ordered it, many of these disputes would be done away with. Mr Buxton explained that the Department was only too eager to give trucks to those who ordered them, and lie did not see how the present situation could be remedied. It was really a matter for the farmers themselves. Mr McYillv pointed out the difficulty of making such angulation, and said' that the farmers, thyiselves were really the only ones who eould deal with the matter. General. Mr Matheson waited on the committee "on behalf of the motor-car proprietors of Christchureh, and asked for that body's support an an appeal to the Railway, Department to lm\e the ToiollL loading bank in the stahon vards near Madras street rased to allow of the more easj handling of cars and lorries in loading them on to trucks. He s3:<l that at present great difficulty was experienced m getting motor vehicles on to the trucks because the trucks too high for the loading bank. _ . Mr MeVilly promised to look anto the matter.