WHERE ARE THE TRUCKS?

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8539, 20 March 1908, Page 8

WHERE ARE THE TRUCKS?

ALLEGED SHORT SUPPLY. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 19. The insufficient supply of railway rolling stock continues to cause delay and inconvenience to shipping at Onehunga, especially in tho case of colliers. On Tuesday morning the Union Company's steamer PukaKi berthed at the Onehunga wharf, but owing to there not being any empty trucks available, she had to lie idle while tho wharf labourers looked on. Out of tho cargo of 1430 tons of coal, no less than 1320 are consigned to the Railway Department. which Tact, however, did not servo to stimulate tho Department into providing moro trucks. At 8 a.m. yesterday a start was made on the coal, but operations ceased at 4 p.m.. as the available trucks were filled with 270 tons. Another start will be made at 8 o'clock this morning, but ihcro is little possibility of the steamer being able to clear to-morrow as was intended. Not only is the constant waiting for rolling stock a source of inconvenience to shipping, but it causes a number of men to remain idle when /they- ought to bo earning l good pay.