Freight queries from Chch M.P.s

Press, 1 September 1980, Page 23

Freight queries from Chch M.P.s

Parliamentary Reporter Nine out of every 10 tonnes of freight carried ■ south across Cook Strait ..from Wellington by the rail ferries is bound for Christchurch, or points south of Christchurch. This was elicited in Parliament by a question from the member for Christchurch Central, Mr G. W. R. Palmer. In reply, the Minister of Transport (Mr McLachlan) * said that the proportion of freight carried by the ferries - for. Christchurch or further south, in the year to March 31,-.was about 89, per-cent. •> • _ ■ Mrs Ann’t Hercus (Labour, Lyttelton) asked if

this level of freight for the Southern half of the South Island had been taken into account when the proposed Lyttelton to Wellington ferry trial had been abandoned. The trial had been based on passengers, private cars, and some trucks. Mr McLachlan said. “It was not based on statistics on freight,” he said. Mr McLachlan faces another question, now on the Order Paper, from Mrs Hercus, which seeks to determine what proportion of north-bound freight on the ferries is generated from Christchurch, or from points further south.