RAILWAY IMPORTATIONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 224, 15 June 1908, Page 3

RAILWAY IMPORTATIONS.

ENGINE PARTS THAT MAY BE MADE IN \, . THE COLONY.

(BY-'TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT). Christchurch, June. 13. . .Mr. Davey, M.P., is not satisfied with Mr. reply concerning tho importation of railway material. "It is rather peculiar," -he says,.-,," that ;-:Mr. Hall-Jones should state that it was necessary to import steel rods for one 90-ton engine after- I had told him distinctly that sufficient rods and other material had been received at Addington from England for the manufacture of eight engines. If the Addington workshops could turn out the 70-ton engine shown at the Exhibition, everything except the whe'ols being made at Addington, suroly an engino twenty tons heavier could also havo been manufactured. I am not aware of the value of scrap iron steel as compared with tho special steel imported, but if scrap iron rods are sufficiently: strong to run our southern express trains, it seems somewhat strange that we should have to import rods for a slightly heavier engine. I also omitted to mention in my telegram to, tile Minister that a number of tube plates had also been imported from the Old Country. These have been and could be mado' at our workshops. It seems to mo that the wholo trouble is that, despite tho fact that tho Railway Department knew long ago the necessity for providing new rolling stock for the 'Main Trunk and other lines shortly to bo opened, it now finds itself compelled to import."