FRUIT BY RAIL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18919, 7 February 1927, Page 10

FRUIT BY RAIL.

GROWERS COMPLAIN. ALLEGED NEGLECT BY DEPARTMENT. Me:n,.oi3 of the Canterbury t'ruitijroweis' As<ociaiion complained bitterly on .iaturdav ni-ht or alleged neglect of their produce bv the Railway Department, and a deputation was appointed to iuteivieu the District Traffic Manager with .: \ ie»v to teeing what could be tioi;o t-> improve the handling of fruit

Mr A. Uloxani i-i.jiicJ the quotum bv - iving that a consignment of 1 run dt-tilled fur liiwu-argil'i lolt Clinslthuich on December L'Utli, and was not sob] until .lanuarv 4th. Then again, ho sail! Waiinate *tri:w!jerries were railed from Studholmo to Cliristehurch for the New Year trade, as a concession, but the Railw.iv Department would not carrv thristchiirrh fruit to Waiinate. As far as the Invercargill consignment was concerned, plums, lettuces, and utile r perishables were included, said Mr Rloxam. and to take a week in dciivoriiiE tlicrn at their destination was scandnlou*. "SomethiiiK is rndieallv wrong. ' said Mr A. Beckett. "The Railway Department is trving to put us in the bankrupts court. Wo want to send our produce south to the best market, and the railways put up the freight and give us a poorer service. We'll have to stoke the enpines yet'."' Mr C. E. Pope: Thcr simply do not want our fruit on the platform: its too much bother' Mr G. E- Billson siiegeslcd that a deputation should put the fruitgrowers* case before the officials of the Department. "Pome arrangement has been come to whereby crowers in other districts can send their fruit up here. If it is done in one case, it can be done in another."' V FT. E. Morgan (secretary). «© have applied to the railway people in every possible way. Mr Pope lias put the question fo them mildly and fiercelv. and still we come bark to the *ame thing The Traffic Manager says he cannot do anything' without eonsuiting the Minister, and the Minister savs it is }> serious thing to interf o with the Traffic Manager! Tt's n rectular pnzsle: thev always hare von bailed up. The meeting decided that n deputation consistine of Messrs C. E. Pone nod 0. V-. Billson should wait on the Traffic Manner at Christehurch and ascertain what arrangements can he come to.