RAILWAY METHODS

Evening Star, Issue 21319, 25 January 1933, Page 12

RAILWAY METHODS

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The motto of the Railways Department is evidently. “ a place for everything and.everything in its place.” 1 had an interesting experience recently in consigning an empty fruit crate from Dunedin to Waimate. 1 was informed by the grower of the fruit that 1 could return the crate to Waimate by the railway for 7d. Full of confidence I prepared the necessary document at the parcels office of the Dunedin railway station, to be told that the charge would be Is (id, as on 'a parcel, but that if 1 cared to attend at the goods office 1 could forward the crate as a “ returned empty ” for a lower figure. Still clutching my 7d 1 duly attended at the goods office, and was directed to the “D” shed. The “D ” shed is about a quarter of a mile long. After sundry inquiries I arrived at the exact spot ut winch my crate should be deposited, and 1 was relieved of it by a kindly porter, who told mo that ho thought the charge would be sd, and that 1 must pay at the office, in the office 1 was closely cross-examined by an official as to wliether the crate had come by rail or bus, and he finally allowed me to go on payment of lid. In future when 1 have a “ returned empty ” to consign I shall take it personally by train to some small station like Fort Chalmers, where all the activities of the Railways Department are carried on under one roof.—l am, etc., Organisation. January 24,