RAILWAY MATTERS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 18 May 1912, Page 5

RAILWAY MATTERS.

THE SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS. BY TELEGRAPH-PRESS ASSOCIATION. DUNEDIN, May 17. Jn connection with the representations which have been placed before Mr vA. M. Myers, Minister of Railways, during his visit to the South Island in reference to the shortage of trucks, the Minister informed a reporter to-day thatit had been arranged that Mr Piper (senior traffic manager of the HnrunuiHluff section, should leave to-morrow tor the north, foi the purpose of conferring with Mr Stringleman, district traffic manager at Chrisfcchurch, with a view of a meeting1 of representatives from the vaiious shipping interest and others interested in the shortage' of trucks, the object being to remove the existing grounds of complaint by doing everything possible to minimise the present inconvenience and congestion of traffic. In the meantime, in addition to the 323 waggons at present building, and which it is expected will be on the road within the next four months, every expedition is being used in regard to further improving matters by increasing the size of the present waggons, and raisins: their holding capacity* f rom six to eight tons. The Minister'is hopeful that there will be less justification in the future for complaints of the same nature. Mr A. M. Mvers, who returned from Inverrargill this morning, was waited on by two deputations. The first, represented Green Island and Mossiel residents, urged a. better train service to Mosgiel, and several other improvements of a minor nature. Mr Myers promised a better train service, but indicated that the other requests would have to stand down, owing to other and more urgent requirements. Another deputation urged the prosecution of the Utago Central and Lawrence-Roxburgh railways. The Minister promised to give careful consideration to the matter when it came before the Cabinet. He intended going into the question of petrol engines, as some portions of the country would not justify the laying down of heavy lines. * to