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Greymouth Evening Star, 7 December 1945, Page 6

Replying to a letter, signed “Torn Sack,” published in yesterday’s “Star,” a Railway Department officer this morning said that if the correspondent would supply details of delay in delivery, full enquiries would be made as to the justification of the complaint. He added that as 600 tons of cargo was lifted from • the ship in question, the Gabriella, and most expeditiously, it was difficult for the Department to ascertain the item to which the correspondent refers.

Six persons, four females and two males, have gone forward from Greymouth this week for seasonal work in Nelson. The allocations for these workers are coming through from Nelson more slowly this year, younger females being required. Difficulty is being experienced by the Greymouth Manpower Officer in placing men who have applied for seasonal work, in the main for the duration of their holidays, but Nelson agriculturists are endeavouring to obtain girls who will stay in the district right throughout the season to June and July.

The Public Works Department has been engaged lately in temporary measures to control rivers in South Westland. At Waitangi River where the stop bank had been washed out, temporary repairs have been made, but the final solution to this problem is still under consideration by the Department and the Westland Catchment Board. At the Little Wanganui River at Hari-Hari, which had threatened to change its course and flood nearby farm lands, repairs have been carried out to the stop-bank and stone work has also been carried out to hold the river. Despite the heavy rainfall in the far south last month, no damage has been reported from the Okuru Jackson’s Bay area.

Considering the magnitude of the slip on the railway line near Otira on Tuesday and the length of track affected, the railway services between Greymouth and Christchurch are experiencing comparatively little delay. Since the slip was cleared on Wednesday night; the express from Christchurch yesterday suffered the biggest delay, arriving at Greymouth 33 minutes late, this partly being due to the size of the train, which comprised nine carriages and two vans. The railcars have not been affected by the speed restrictions applying to the section of line involved in the slip, but the bigger expresses, naturally, have lost time in crossing the section. Clearing work is still continuing at the site of the slip to make the area more safe.

A final decision has not been made by Greymouth retailers, other than butchers and grocers, on the Government’s proposal to have a 40-hour weeek observed in shops with Saturday morning closing. A meeting was held at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, when there was a representative gathering, and it was resolved that the shops remain open on Saturday mornings until January 4, 1946. No decision has been made as to what hours will be observed after this date, but a representative of one Greymouth firm said this' afternoo© that a further meeting would have to be held to reach finality.' The matter is to be discussed at Monday’s meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. Greymouth butchers and hardware and oil and colour merchants have decided to remain open, on Saturdays until the end of the year,'after which they will close for two full days at the week-end. Grocers will deliberate on the subject on Wednesday next. The observation becomes compulsory on June 20, or earlier if the Arbitration Court orders it. ,