RAILWAY GOODS CONGESTION

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29384, 10 December 1960, Page 14

RAILWAY GOODS CONGESTION

Carriers’ Thanks For

Co-operation

Not only railway workers and carriers have worked well into the night to help to clear congested goods sheds at the Christchurch Railway Station. Warehousemen and manufacturers have also extended their horns. Thanks for this assistance was expressed yesterday by the president of the Christchurch and Suburban Carriers’ Association (Mr L. V. Elwell). “Many of our members, harassed by traffic congestion, shortage of staff, and bad weather, are grateful for these efforts, which enable them to fulfil obligations of efficiency and service,” said Mr Etwell.

“More co-operation of this sort, coupled with a little forbearance from all, will maintain our happy relations with the business community and public generally,” he said.

There is still no let-up in the heavy influx of freight, according to the district traffic manager of the Railways Department (Mr C. J. Millin). He said his men were working “maximum overtime,” unloading 400 waggons daily. But still there was a backlog of about 1000 waggons. He said he could see little chance of an improvement before January. A heavy shipping schedule was indicated at Lyttelton. and air freight services were also busy.

It was possible that the closing of mines on the West Coast during Christmas might make more waggons available and cause the pace to ease a little then, he said.