RAILWAY TRANSPORT.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17747, 26 April 1923, Page 3

RAILWAY TRANSPORT.

♦ REPLY TO FARMERS' UNION. Railway transport facilities for farmers were discussed at Wednesday's meeting of the Xorth Canterbury Provincial Executive of the Xew Zealand Farmers' Union, the matter being brought up bv a letter from the District Traffic Manager of Railways, winch ran as follows: — 1 ain now in receipt of your letter of -March 12th regarding the formation of a special committee of the Farmers' L moii to make enquiries into rail transport, and have to imonn you tliat I MialJ be very pleased, to look into any m/aiteitj your committee may think necessary to bring under my notice. In regard to the subjects you mention in your letter; U) "The allocation of grain trucks at country stations in ordei of application, reasonable notice being given to applicants, and grain for shipment to have priority."—At country stations the officer in charge distributes empty I waggons to best advantage, and shipping orders receive first consideration, with due respect to the date of sailing of the vessel. Some farmers are inclined to load consignments for shipment too early, resulting in waccona being held under load an undue length of time waiting for the steamer. Any shortage of waggons there may be at the time is thus mad© more acute. Farmers must understand that stationmasters are in direct communication with the transport branch, and the latter keeps in close touch with the shipping agents. Everything possible is done by this Department to reduce delays to waggons at ports, and so help to keep down shortage of waggons. Empty waggons for flag stations where we have no officer in charge are carded to show for whom they are sent. (2) "Elimination of the delav that occurs when trucks arrive at destination. whether wharf or siding, quicker than consignees can unload, and are consequently detained, ha(ve to pay demurrage."—TKis is a matter between consignees and consignors. Consignees should advise consignors to load only at Buch a rato as they can deal with, at destination. If consigners fail to make proper arrangements in this respect, waggons are delayed, and again a snortage of rolling stock is caused. (3) ''Trucks sent out to country stations, and sent away empty without ascertaining whether they were required locally."—This matter always receives every attention, and empty waggons are removed frotn country stations only when absolutely necessary to meet more urgent orders, such as to prevent stoppage of the shipping at port stations. (4) "Dairy Produce Transport."— There are large quantities of cream carried by rail at present, and the railage charges are very low. The conveyance of cream by motor lorries is largely confined, I understand, to cases where the lorry collects the cream at distances from the rail. In view of the concessions already made in the carriage of cream, and of empty cream cans, I could not see my way to recommend any reduction in tlie present rate of charges. These masters have been discussed at various times with the Railways Committee, but if your branch has any fresh information I shall be glad to hear further from you. The chairman, Mr W. W. MuTßolland, touched briefly on some of the points. The truck for grain question, he said, was one which caused fanners much waste of time, and was helping to drive the traffic into the hands of motor transport. The matters was one which could be overcome by a "little organisation on the part of the parties involved. If trucks were held up at receiving points for some time before they were unloaded, the cost of those trucks was being increased, and the earning power diminished. The congestion and holding up were matters that coulcl surely he avoided by a little organisation on the part of the three parties concerned, the railways, the millers, and the farmers. It was decided to support the Railway Committee in its requests, and to support the requests it was making. Another letter from the District Traffic Manager of Railways stated that the matter of a service from Ashburton to Christchurch and back on Wednesdays had been ftiTly gone into, but the Department could not see its way to grant the concession. Mr G. Sheat said that in view of certain improvements in the railway services which had previously been described as impossible, he did not give up Kope of hanrinw the faster service to Ashburton. Wliat was wanted was a faster train, giving Ashburton people longer time in town on sale days. In the course of some discussion, the chairman said the Railway officials were always open to hear grievances or suggestions.. Any complaints or suggestions that districts might have should be forwarded to the Railway Committee. It was also decided that IF bo suggested to the Railway Department that local residents be consulted when alteration to the lay-out of stations was. contemplated.