THE PORT TRAINS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17666, 19 December 1917, Page 6

THE PORT TRAINS.

Sm JosEm Waud will, no doubt, prefer that the deputation which is to wait fcpon him this morning concerning Port trains shall put the situation as plainly and definitely as possible. Tho speakers should find no difficulty in marshalling cogent arguments in behulf of justice, common-sense and efficiency, Evidence will be adduced, we understand, giving specific proofs of damage to the Port, loss to tho community, dislocation of trade; and we cannot think that Sir Joseph Ward, with his business experience and wide general knowledge, will be very difficult to convince that the demands of the deputation must bo mot. We say demands because the people should not go to tho Government begging for this modicum of efficiency. The deputation must show that tho railway authorities are entirely in the wrong—that, indeed, the Government which is, after all, responsible for the whole business, is at present pursuing a policy that injures .one of the most vital services in existence at the present moment, namely, tho shipping service. To the extent that vessels are delayed at Lyttelton, or arc not able to make tho fullest possible use of tho port and are thus compelled to overcarry or to tranship merchandise' —to that extent tho policy of the Minister of Railways and his officers is actually hindering tho successful prosecution of tho war. Every day that an oversea liner is idle means a large m.oney loss to begin with, but a more serious loss of service just when time and capacity are of consequqpce to tho whole Empire. Well, there have been hundreds of those lost days through the isolation of Lyttelton which the railway authorities so far have refused to remove. Wo do not wish to be rude nor would we prompt the deputation into the uso of language that is not polite. But tho hour haa come for perfectly plain speaking and for Canterbury to inform the Government that it refuses to tolerate the existing conditions. The gentlemen who are immediately responsible ought to know that their policy is absurdly wrong. They certainly are well enough paid to render better service. The yearly salaries of the principals are;— ' General Manager • • • 3000 Assistant General Manager . 1000 Minister 1 300 Now, £5300 a year, plus travelling allowances, is an oxcessivo price to pay for the crippling of a seaport in war time. Thioso who receive these comfortable salaries owe to the people who find the money the most efficient train service that circumstances permit. But Canterbury, which contributes its full share, is flouted and ill-treated; the work of its port is partially stopped, business is handicapped or diverted to other parts of the Dominion, and the extremely important interests of shipping generally are prejudically affected, simply because the responsible official mind cannot, seo tho stupidity of divorcing tho Port and the waterside labour. Wo hope the deputation this morning will make it plain to Sir Joseph Ward that the patience of the province is strained and that the disabilities placed upon it aro intolerable. At all events it will have been made clear after to-day, by representation to tho outstanding business mind in the Cabinet, that if tho present blundering losses and waste are not checked by tho provision of an evening train, there will rest upon the Government as a whole a very heavy responsibility. W© look, however; with a good deal of confidence to Sir Joseph W ard f.or assistance. After hearing the deputation he should be able to enlighten the railway authorities and to convert their obstinacy into common-sense.