RAILWAY CO-OPERATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19511, 15 December 1926, Page 16

RAILWAY CO-OPERATION

AUCKLAND ADVISORY BOARD. THE QUESTION OF FINANCE. GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY WANTED. The provisional Railway District Advisory Board, formed for the purpose of fostering co-operation between the Railway Department and the users of the railways, met yesterday for the second time in Auckland. Mr. F. A. Hellaby, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, presided, and there were also present: Mr. C. C. Munro, representing the farmers' interests; -Mr. J. A. C. Allum, the manufacturers, Mr. J. Butler, the sawmillers; Mr. T. Simpson, the exporters; and Mr. J. G. Rickerby, the Railway Department. It was announced that Mr. W. R. Allingham had been deputed to represent the distributors, Mr. W. R. Penn, the livestock dealers, and Mr. D. Carter, the shippers. Representatives of the coal interests, the tourist traffic and suburban travellers had yet to be appointed. The advantages and improvements the board hopes to secure are set out as follow:—(1) Estimating and forecasting the probable demand for waggons for seasonal or fluctuating traffic; (2) regulating despatch of consignments to stores and ships in order to avoid congestion, and the holding up of waggons that should be available for traders; (3) speeding up loading and unloading and obtaining maximum loading of waggons; (4) clearance of inward goods from railway sheds; (5) arranging preference to specially urgent traffic; (6) despatch of goods to railway sheds during the day to avoid congestion at close of day; (7) organising and regulating despatch of livestock, farm produce and farmers' requisites; (8) co-ordinating the department's efforts with the requirements of the user and so eliminating misunderstandings; and (9) generally to assist transportation by co-operative organisation tending toward the general welfare of both the department and its clients. After discussing a proposed constitution and set of rules, the meeting debated the question of finance. Much disappointment was expressed with the disinclination of the Acting-Minister of Railways, the Hon. F. J. Rolleston, to assist the board financially, it being pointed out that the functions of the board, as suggested by Mr. Coates, were largely for the benefit of the department as against the users. A resolution was carried pledging the members to raise through the various interests they represented, the money necessary to enable the board to function, provided the department would subsidise such sum. £ for £. THE WELLINGTON BODY. INAUGURAL MEETING HELD. [BX TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. At the inaugural meeting of the Wellington District Railway Advisory Board the following officers were elected:— Chairman, Mr. A. Leigh Hunt;, deputychairman, Mr. G. W. Morgan; executive committee, Messrs. J. Pow, J. A. Curtis, A. Seed, W. J. Gaudin, E. Bowe, S. Campbell, Peterson, and a representative of the National Dairy Association; secretary (pro tenii), Mr. H. Snowdon Fairchild. The territory allotted to the board by •the Railway Department is from Ohakune and New Plymouth southwards, including the Nelson and Picton districts. Sub-boards will bis appointed in the larger centres within the area to attend to matters of local import. After discussion regarding the scope and policy of the board it was decided to adjourn until the middle of January.