AUCKLAND MEAT TRAINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14203, 28 October 1909, Page 5

AUCKLAND MEAT TRAINS.

, AN OFFICIAL, STATEMENT.

[BY TELEGRAM.—- CORRESPONDENT.]

_ 'Wellington, Wednesday. In replying to a question from Mr. Lang as to the carriage of meat from the Auckland 1 abattoirs to' the city by an early morning train, the Minister for Railways said : —"The Department has from the outset been prepared to make suitable arrangements for the. conveyance ,of meat from the abattoirs to-Auckland City, and those concerned have repeatedly been advised to this effect. The only difficulty in the way is the disinclination of the butchers and others concerned in the meat businosji to pay the charges at the tariff rate for the special- train required to give effect to the request, ■ In July last, the secretary of the Auckland Master Butchers' Union was advised . that if the butchers would guarantee" a minimum revenue of £5 per train, and of. three tons of? meat per truck, , any. deficiency- of revenue to be divided pro; rata among the consignees, the Department was . prepared to run. a special train for the conveyance of .the traffic, but it could not run a special "train for "the conveyance ,; . unless special rates were charged. Up to the present "the butchers have not intimated their preparedness to accept the terms offered, and nothing further .can, therefore, be done in the matter." The Minister added that the offer was still open.