SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13464, 17 April 1907, Page 7

SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS,

, . NOT SUFFICIENT IN THE COLONY.

APPEALS TO THE MINISTER.

Tfft; question of the shortage of railway trucks was raised by Mr. C. C. Dacre at the meeting of the. Harbour Board yesterday. Mi". Dacre said lie understood that the Board could hardly get sufficient coal for its dredges. Some action certainly should be taken by the Board.

The Chairman (the Hon. K. Mitchelson) said ho had received a letter from the Minister on this subject, and it. would appear that the Railway Department hail not the trucks required in the country, and that seemed to Vie the cause of the trouble. There were not sufficient trucks for the business.

Mr. W. V. Massey, M.H.R., wired to the Minister for Railways, the Hon. W. HallJones, on Saturday last, stating that the shortage of trucks had now assumed a very ,«erioiis aspect, and that for several days work at the Huntly mines bad been practically suspended for want of coal waggons. He urged the Minister to take steps to prevent a recurrence of the shortage. To this telegram Mr. Massey received on Monday the following reply : —"Will inquire into matter of railway waggons for Huntly.— Wm. HaLL-JoNES." Mr. Massey again telegraphed the Minister yesterday: —" Re coal waggons for Huntlv. I trust there will bo no unreasonable delay, as present position very serious for a large number of people." Mr. C. H. Poole has also telegraphed the Minister as follows:—"Rolling stock problem bar. reached an acute stage. Miners, merchants, manufacturers, all in trouble. Cannot something be done to ease pressure, prevent coal famine winter? Respectfully demand your immediate attention. Don't delaj."