NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 16 July 1925, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS

ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT ADDRESS BY MR WILSON Under the auspices of the Nelson Chamber of Commerce, Mr G. T. Wilson, of the Commercial Branch of the Railway Department, Wellington, gave a very interesting address at the Institute last evening, when he dealt with the. new tariff, the general activities of the commercial branch and railway matters generally. Mr A. Gould, president of the Chamber, presided over a lair attendance. Mr Wilson, after tracing the various mode of transport from early times up to the present day .went in to deal with Now Zealand's railway history, which he said dated back to 1860, when a eon tract was let for the construction of the Christchurch-Lyttelton lines. Figures were quoted concerning the capital va. luo of railways, and the good® and passenger traffic, as well as the revenue and expenditure connected therewith. The new tariff rates were-fully explained; as well asi the means being taken by the Department to cope with motor competition. Referring to motor trains, Mr Wilson said the Department was at present engaged in trying out a number of self-contained railed vehicles with a view to determining which was the best class of vehicle to .suit the varying conditions in New Zealand, and the Department expected to be able to effect considerable economies by their use. Ihe speaker, before concluding, dealt with various other phases of the Department’s activities. Tlie chairman said Mr Wilson would he pleased to answer any questions. Mr F. G. Gibbs, referring to motor trains, said the Chamber had made representations to the Department as to whether it would ho possible to put a motor carriage on to carry passengers to Glenhope and then transfer to motor cars to Inangahua, where the train could again be picked up. In Nelson there was a road running alongside, the railway to Glenhope, but passengers went by ear, and as a consequence the highway war. considerably cut up. The objection made by the Department to [tutting on a motor carriage was on account of the grade. Mr Wilson replied that if a suitable motor vehicle could be obtained, lie did not think there would he any necessity for the Nelson people to agitate for ouo to be put on. At present, there was no self-contained motor suitable for running on the New Zealand railway®. 'To compete with motor cars in Nelson three extra passenger trains a week would have to be put on to Glenhope, and to run as fast as motors the trains would have to he purely passenger ones, and in addition goods trains would also have to be put on. Mr Knapp asked whether it would not be possible to speed up the trains in the Waimea. Quite a lot of time was lent at the stations; but he supposed the time table had to be adiiered to. Mr W ilson replied that- the point was now under consideration. It was r..ot- possible tei reduce tlie time under present conditions. It would he very costly to run separate passenger and goods trains. This was where a motor vehicle would come in.

In answer to Mr Lock, Mr Wilson replied that the through booking recently instituted on the New Zealand railways already showed a distinct profit. It was hoped to extend the .system still further to give the. Motueka people an opportunity of hooking through to any part of the Dominion.

In reply to Mr Duncan, it was stated the the Department’s policy was that so long as motors were acting as feeders to the railway, there was no intention of' putting them out of business. Mr Knapp suggested that town people should have tho benefit of concession tickets into the country, just, as country people have into the town. Mr W ilson replied that if there was any poosibility of business in this direction the Department, would be prepared to give it a trial. A motion was carried that the Depart- 1 merit be asked to consider the advisableness of running trains into the country at concession rates during the wummer months. After some discussion on the matter, Mr Moffatt moved “That this meeting is of opinion that a dense of personal ownership of the railways should be cultivated through New Zealand, with the view to assisting those endeavouring to successfully administer the country’s railway system, which we believe would undoubtedly be to the economic advantage of the whole Dominion; and that the associated Chambers throughout New Zealand be asked to co-operate.’ The question of erecting a verandah at the Nclbou railway station was brought under Mr Wilson’s notice. It was pointed out that the Nelson people felt a distinct grievance over the matter and would feel more kindly disposed to- j wards the Department, if the request i was acceded to. On the motion of the chairman, a resolution was carried that the Department he urgently requested to erect a veranda-

In moving a hearty vole of thanks to Mr Wilson for his address, the chairman said it had been a very interesting one. and had shown that since the mot ora had begun to compete with the railways, the Nelson section would never pay until it wa.:, linked up with Inangahun.

The motion was carried with acclama Hon.