TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIV, Issue 38, 13 January 1944, Page 4

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

FROM MONDAY NEXT

(Press Assn) WELLINGTON, Jan. 12 Referring to the serious position which has arisen through the depletion of railway coal stocks during the holiday period, and on account of the industrial trouble in the mines in the Greymouth area, making it necessary to impose severe restrictions on the railway services, both passenger and goods, commencing from Monday next, the Minister of Railways (Mr Scmple) pointed out that there had been practically no coal production for the past three weeks and consequently there had been a big drain on the stocks of coal held by the Railway Department at its various depots. Even at present, he said, it was necessary to transfer coal from depot to depot in order to keen the service running. Should the industrial position improve during the week the matter of curtailment of services would be further reviewed with a view to avoiding it if at all possible, but it was considered advisable to make the position known to the public in order to reduce inconvenience and hardship to a minimum. "If restrictions are necessary they will be similar to those imposed in. September, 1942, when the Waikato miners were on strike," said the Assistant-Gen-eral Manager of Railways (Mr J. Sawers). 'That means that the Limited oxnresses between AVellington and Auckland will be cut. out and onlv ordinary expresses will run on the Main Trunk lino each day. Broadly speaking there will be one express one way daily on the other main lines, making three return trips weekly. For example, there will be one-way expresses each day on the New Plymouth, Napier, and Rotolua lines. Permits will be required for journvys in excess of 50 miles as hitherto, but the restrictions will not. apply to suburban railway traffic. Last lime the restrictions imposed applied to the North Island only, but if re-imposed they will be universal and will apply to both islands. It will be possible to say definitely by Friday whether the restrictions are to be enforced or not."