THE CARRIAGE OF STOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15252, 15 March 1913, Page 8

THE CARRIAGE OF STOCK.

DELAYS ON RAILWAY. A FARMERS' COMPLAINT. Bitter complaints regarding the delays to which stock have been subjected while being railed to and from agricultural shows were made at the annual meeting of the A. and P. Association yesterday. Mr. I. G. Gray said the present system was such that stock was exposed to risks so serious that exhibitors were quite likely to refrain from, exhibiting at all.. He had had experiences recently of trains which had averaged only about eight miles per hour with stock on board. The goods trains were much incommoded by being delayed to allow half-laden expresses to run. He did not blame either the Minister for Railways or the traffic . manager, but felt that the railway service was be-' ing held up by subordinates. . Mr. W. Johnstone related experiences similar to those of Mr. Gray. Mr. G. J. Garland said that he believed a better day was coming, for it had been decided to appoint an expert to the full control of the railways. The bad state of affairs referred to by the speakers ob-. tained in other parts of the Dominion. It was good that the members should make such complaints; they would show the new official that a real grievance existed, and would indicate clearly the direction in which an improvement should be effected. Mr. W. R. Dick said that it would be well to secure an improvement at once. He proposed that a deputation should wait on the Minister for Railways (the Hon. W. H. Herries) to have from him a clear statement of the position. Mr. R. Salmon, referring to a suggestion that the association should require at least an assurance that stock coming to the Dominion Show should be carried without delay, said that all stock should be carried with expedition. Butchers were constantly suffering through the injury to stock carried by rail. The president (Mr. J. M. Phillipps) said that the Department should be asked to give preference to all stock, and to show stock above ordinary stock. It was resolved that Messrs. J. M. Phillipps, J. G. Rutherford. W. Johnstone, E. P. Paul! and I. G. Gray should wait upon the MinSler for Railways to-day, and brincr the'matter before him. !