RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11629, 10 May 1912, Page 1

RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION.

(Per Press Association.) Christchurch, May 9. Tile Hon. A. M. Myers, Minister of Railways, who arrived in Christchurch tuis morning, spent an exceedingly busy two hours before lunch. Deputations, public and' private, succeeded,' one. another with no breathing space between. When the last had been disposed' o 1 ; Mr Myers made a brief statement touching 011 the object of his visit to «the South L&uid. "My tour of the South Island, ' ■Mr Myers said, "is taken with a view of examining the railway system and.of !'meeting the officers of departments over J which I. preside. J; is essential that one should have some personal information in regard to mauiy matters before adjudicating upon them. As I intimated to one. deputation this morning, it is contemplated that the railway facilities at Christchurch station shall' be increased, and l to that end I am being furnished with full reports by my departmental officers. Everywhere I go I find that owing to increased traffic de-mands-are being made for improvements. This I view with some satisfaction.- as it discloses" the fact that the. demands are made because, of the increased development «f the country. It is my desire that the Railway Depart-* ■ment should recognise their responsibilir ties as public carriers, and should give I every reasonable facility to our customers. It is quite clear, however, that this, like every other question, is governed by the all-important question, the financial aspect (if affairs, before coining to a final 'conclusion. The policy of the department will be to carry out those of the demandsi which are most urgent.". ■ s The Minister was asked, whether he would say anything oil the question of railway extension., particularly as affecting the South Island Main Trunk. "I fully recognise the important part transit pla-vs in. the development of our Dominion," he said', "and wliile_ there is such an enormous portion, of its resources ■still undeveloped the Railway Department has. by no means, reached its ultimate. I believe that it is desirable always to obtain the fullest data and information first, and it is impossible to launch a comprehensive scheme unHJ that has beeii done." A large deputation, representing the Fruit Growers' Association was introduced to the Minister by Mr G-. Witty, MP.

Mr Witty said" that at one time the timber for "fruit cases.was carried free on the railways, hut owing to the selfishness of a timber firm which sent for timber 3-50 miles away in. ordter to save half a penny a case the concession was withdrawn, audi free carriage for 100 miles was substituted. The wanted to ask for free carriage of timber from the nearest! milling district; failing that they 'asked that luvlf the white pine measurement rate he charged, or not more than ljdl per case. They were really paying: 2-Jd' per case in ■tlie meantime. At present the' "diooks" had. to be put in bundles, and that was objected to. The deputation suggested that the concession should be made onlv to bona fide fruit growers. The Minister said: that the fru.it iudftistrv was an important one. and was capable of exnansion for export purposes. • The Railway Department was anxious to give every facility for the carriage of goods, but it had to conduct its business on businesslike lines. He could not wive the deputation nn. answer at once. He believerl in. putting everyone on the same footing, but the matter would have to be fully considered as affecting the whole of the country. He would make inouiries' into the: matter, and Ist the deputation know the result.