THE HON ALBERT PITT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 14038, 19 April 1906, Page 9

THE HON ALBERT PITT.

A BUSY DAY IN CHRISTCHURCH. The Hon A. Pitt, Acting-Minister of Railways, was kept busy in Christchurch yesterday. In the morning he walked down to the Christchurch railway station, and, in company with Mr F. S. Whitoombo, Traffic Manager, and Mr H, Macandrew, Superintending Engineer, made an inspection of' tbe railway buildings, with a view to providing extra platform accommodation and ticket offices during the time of the heavy traffic when the Exhibition will be open. Later on, he drove to the Exhibition grounds,, where he met Messrs Munro and Allan, with whom he discussed several questions connected with the Exhibition. After lunch, Mr G. Laurenson and Mr W, W. Charters (president of the Industrial Association) had a long interview with him in regard to the Lyttelten-Christchurch railway line. They discussed the rates charged on the line, and the Minister said that he would be glad to go into that question again. If the Chamber of Commerce" and tbe Industrial Association would place the facts ■ of the case before him he would consider them carefully. He hoped t o' be in Christchurch again before the session began, and he -would bo glad to meet a deputati&n on the subject. The proposal to electrify the Lyttelton-Ghristehurch line was also discussed at length, but the Minister said that he could do nothing in that direction until the return of Sir Joseph Ward. Mr Laurenson told him that it had been reported that modifications had been introduced which minimised the effect of the eight hours system on the railways. He said that no modifications had been reported to him, and he would inquire into- the complaints made. . Mr H. G. Ell, M.H.R., also bad ai long interview, and brought several ■questions under Colonel Pitt’s notice. Ho promised to consider a proposal that the Christchurch General Post Office building should be repainted so as to make it look as presentable as the new building, and to look into the matter of providing boundary posts to fix the limits within which nets may be used at the outlets of Canterbury rivers. The Minister left for Wellington last evening.