CONCESSIONS ON RAILWAYS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 17 June 1922, Page 4

CONCESSIONS ON RAILWAYS

DISCUSSED' AT OFFICERS' CONFERENCE (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, This ‘Day, Among the remits discussed by tire Railway Officers' ' Conference was duo from Dunedin in favour of withdrawing all concessions to Hie public except free passes for school children, or crediting the Department j with the value of services rendered. 1 Several delegates said the time -"had i arrived when the gloves had to be | taken off, as they were sick and tired jof reading ignorant and ill adviser! i comment originating from sources ; that had but .a hazy idea of railway transport;. When salaries and wages were being attacked it was their duty to show how the railways were being exploited by certain interests at ( the expense of the men in the I service. Among the items criticised : was the free carriage of agricultural lime up to 100 miles, which it was asserted caused a loss of thousands yearly. Trucks caught fire and were damaged or destroyed. Often the farmers who got the’ lime free sent the produce thereof away by motor. A number of other articles were also carried free and the freight on beef for export had just been reduced. A number of people, including “Distinguished Visitors,” are conveyed for nothing, 'or at low rates. Two owt. of milk'was carried 160 miles for 3/3 and the cans returned free. Other services were mentioned which the Department did for nothing. The remit was passed and the executive instructed to go fully into the matter in order to instruct the public as to some of the reasons w'hy the railways showed a deficit.