MIDLAND LINE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18101, 17 June 1924, Page 6

MIDLAND LINE.

INCREASING TRAFFIC.

"There are indications of an increasing volume of traffic on tha Midland line," stated Mr H. Chapman, district railway traffic manager, at the meeting of the Eailway Committee of the Canterbury Progress League yesterday, "and the increase is noticeable even from as far as Timaru." He had been asked by the League to supply returns of the traffic on the line, but that, he said, the Department was unable to give. Mr H. Holland (chairman) thought that it must be of great advantage to the Eailway Department to get the traffic from tJreymouth to Timaru, goods having formerly been carried by ship. "I understand the Union Company has not sent a boat to the Coast for two months because there is no backloading" said Mr Chapman. Mr Olimie said that, in view of Auckland criticism of the line, it might be well to point out that apart from freight carried, on the line itself, it had been responsible for an increase on other lines, such as Timaru. Mr Chapman: The thing is gradually growing. The Timaru traffic per month is 358 tons, which, of course, is only a small load. The biggest monthly freight was 244 tons, chiefly of, primary produce, from Timaru. Mr Holland: That surely must be gratifying to everyone who was interested in the opening of the tunnel, even if the traffic is small. Mr H. W. Nicholson. Baid that the increase in the amount of the traffic was due to the Union Company's ships not calling at the Coast. Mr Holland: As far as Lyttelton Harbour is concerned, it is not suffering, although it has lost the coal trade. Mr Chapman stated that the amount of traffic on the line might be gauged by getting the difference between the Greymouth Harbour Board's returns for last year and the previous year. Mr W. Stringloman: There should be no need of a reduction of freight charges, if the railway is getting all the trade.