SMALL CONSIGNMENTS BY TRAIN.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1109, 24 April 1911, Page 4

SMALL CONSIGNMENTS BY TRAIN.

IMPORTANT CHANGE COMING. A new system of handling goous i'of transport on the railways of the Dominv ion will be brought into operation by the Department of Kailways on May 1. 1C is claimed that it will groaily relieve the shortage of trucks, which has been a long-standing s-ouree of inconvenience, and it will nlso obviate ninny delays in tha transport of small consignments. The work of the Goods Department of the railways is increased by the tremendous number of small consignments which , are received at all the principal stations tor delivery to country stations. Many ot them consist of parcels of groceries, drapory, and other household requirements, consigned in some instances to private individuals or to country storekeepers, and the large stores of the principal towns send out many of these parcels daily. It has been the practice of tlio Bailway Department to deliver these consignments by the first available train, mul very often a wagon has had to Iμ added to a train, and hauled many miles o carry a few hundredweights of goods to some wayside station. Tha system has been expensive, for rolling-stock'and haulage power aro wasted when every .wagon does not contain its maximum load, nhen it has been possible, economy has been effected by carrying an accumulation of thete small consignments over a stage of their journey, and then distributing them into separate wagons for transport: to their final destination. This practice has involved delays of indeterminate periods, and consignees at country stations have often had to make several journeys over long distances before obtaininif the expected goods. It is now asserted that much of thisinconvenience will bs obviated Ijy the operation of the more economical system. ■ Its method is the accumulation of consignments for stations villi little goods traffic for transport on two, three, font or five days of the week, according to the amount of traffic. Goods will be received at the principal stations for any specified station on certain days of the week, and forwarded on the following, days. The consignees will know on which days their consignments must Iμ delivered, and the consignors will also bo informed as to the days on which their orders will be fulfilled by delivery by rail. It is believed that the system will be of Senefit to tho merchant and his customers, especially in (ho assurance which it affords of less dolay in transit, and of quicker delivery. It will not operate in the ease of a consignment amounting to a truck lo:.d, which will be sent forward on any day of tho week.