THE RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS REPORT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 13905, 5 November 1919, Page 3

THE RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS REPORT.

Per Press Association. I WELLINGTON.. November 5. ' The Railway Commission, dealing, with the specific matters referred to it, states that the evidence showed that the rolling stock and engines were maintained in good and efficient condition, and that proper provision was made for upkeep and- renewal. The number of engines, carriages, and wagons under repair at the beginning of •July. 1919, was not excessive. No responsible officer had reported adversely on the rolling stock condition during the past four years. The curtailment of train services made on the iJiid. July, 1919, was not due to any unsafe condition of the rolling stock or engines, but solely to a shortage of coal. The whole stock held by the Department on that date was 9500 tons, scattered over many depots, and was quite, insufficient to continue the old timetable. There had been a great depletion of coal stocks (ram the end of October, 1913. due to a shortage of shipping and miners, to a diminished output of bituminous coal from the West Coast mines and diminished imports from Newcastle, to strikes and an increased demand by the Navy for Westport coal. The stocks of railway coal fell bv various fluctuations from 85.422 tons in October, 1913. to 9560 in .July, 1919, From October. 1917. the Department was rationed, as there wero not sufficient supplies coming forward. The General Manager refused to payhigher freights demanded by ocean steamers to make special trips to New Zealand with coal, and the Commission thinks he did not show a proper foresight in this attitude. The .Ministerof Munitions had in some urgent cases diverted to other industries coal that had been allocated to railways. The staffV ing was sufficient to maintain the ordinary time-table if other conditions were satisfactory. The restrictions on the carriage of passengers and goods were essential.