RAILWAY MATTERS.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 959, 10 March 1910, Page 8

RAILWAY MATTERS.

Oontiuu&d from page 5. siblo, ami similarly with the New Plymouth train, as this was what Napier ami Now Plymouth ami Wanganui woro now asking for. TRUCKING STOCK. Roparriing the trucking of stock to the Waikato, the opeuing of the Mam Trunk had opened a vast field previously dead to the railways, and Jfoilding ami Palmeiston ' North would become largo stock oontres. The Department would establish a stock distributing depot, but whether tnis would be at Palmerston, Feinting or Martou would dopend on the enquiries they wore making, and what the statistics would show. SCOURED WOOL, The Department had asked.the wool scourers how much wool would be affected by this and had not had a reply. (Mr Eliott said he had not known of any letter). When they got these figures they would see what could bedono, STATION BUILDINGS. He was astonished to hear Mr Hoduer speak as he did. No private employers took greater care of their employees than the Railway Department, but he had yet to find the private employer who would pull down a wooden building that had to servo its purpose because someone thoueht he should put up a palatial brick one and that was at the back of what wbb said. It was only a matter of time when there would be a new station here, but at present they were going to extend the buildings along where the carts stood and improve the aooommodation for parcels and tioket offioes He had received no representations of suoh shortness of staff as Mr Hodder alleged and was not going to keep two or three extra men jnst to 'meet a few minutes' rush. No private employer would. Anyone oould get tickets at any time of the day by Bending for them when there was no crush, and not all rush at the last moment, You had the same orush nearly anywhere in the world at tioket windows. The parcels office would be enlarged, FLAX MATTERS. Regarding fires they took every precaution they oould. They had the befit spark ontoliers known toot none were perfect; and the sarfaoe men were instructed to watoh along the liues. Many faruiera ploughed Are breaks of four or five furrows and if this were possible in the flax swamps it ought to be done. With regard to covers they had got 1000 extra and added 1000 every year. Certainly tarpaulins and trucks should be at the same depot. He would see into it. The Dopartmnt was anxious to do the best it oould and give the most efficient service and not merely a service which suited some parfc'cular locality.* Ho had to do his best for the community and make tho railways pay. Mr Buiok, M.P., thanked Mr Millar, who he said was doing his best to make the railways a working conoeru on the best lines an I would in a short time pat them in a much becter working position..