TRAIN SERVICES

Evening Star, Issue 17085, 2 July 1919, Page 3

TRAIN SERVICES

THE NEW TIME-TABLE, NO-IMPROVEMENT LIKELYTILL AUGUST. Tire Minister of Railways has sent tho following telegram to Mr Parr, M.P., iu reply to a communication regarding the reduction in train aervico ;• — It is impossible to say when the ordinaty service can be resumed. There is only a week’s supply of coal-—about 5,000 tons—on normal running in eight for tire next month. Tlii» situation will undoubtedly be 'relieved - wheiy the Australian strike is over j but relief cannos bo expected first to go from New Zealand to Newcastle. The epidemic is also the cause of' much delay, especially if coal boats on arrival here have to undergo quarantine. As you axe probably aware, the Kahuna lias been in Newcastle for a week or more, and has not started load- . ing. She should by this time have been here -and her cargo of coal discharged. _ I can assure you that tho time-table will be resumed at the earliest possible moment; but there is hardly any hope of getting aiiyalleviation untali August, We are trying to reduce our ordinary consumption of 5,000 tons of coal to half that amount. DISSATISFACTION IN AUCKLAND. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce yesterday considered the curtailment of the railway service in camera. In discussing too matter the president stated that, while the business men of the city were willing to comply with every restriction dictated by absolute necessity, the curtailment of the service had been so drastic and sudden that there was a fooling that the necessity for such severe measures was not yet absolutely proven. There was also a strong opinion in commercial circles that in many directions the coal consumption could have been cut down so as to have made the limitation of the carriage of goods less severe, such as tho supplies that are being conserved for the peace illumixiations, the lighting of toe city, and so on._ While toe merchants and traders wore quite prepared to he loyal to the Government in any genuine embarrassment, the effect of the restrictions threatened to be so serious that it was desirable that the business community should be supplied with the fullest possible information as to the circumstances compelling the present action of the Railway Department. Already some firms were contemplating the possibility of having to suspend their packing and warehouse staffs. ( FERRY SERVICE CONTINUES. [Special to the * Stab.’l CHRICTCTTORCH, July 1. Mr S. K. Sleigh, Christchurch manager of the Union Steam Ship Company, stated to-day that it had been intended to make some alterations in the ferry service, but after consideration it was decided that no alteration should bo made in either the number of .steamers or the time-tables in the meantime. Both the Maori and the Mararoa, therefore, will run as usual.