DELIVERY OF GOODS FROM RAILWAY STATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13875, 12 April 1907, Page 5

DELIVERY OF GOODS FROM RAILWAY STATIONS.

(Per TJhited Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 11. An important change has been made by the Railway Department in respect to the delivery of goods from tlio Auckland Railway Station. Heretofore the practice has been for the Railway Department to deliver goods, the work being done by contract. Now, however, it lias been decidcd that from Monday next owners will require to make their own arrangements for thu delivery of goods. The department states that, the advisability of tlio department discontinuing the delivery of goods was considered two years ago, but in the meantime the system of owners arranging for the delivery of their own.goods from the station had been found to work satisfactorily at both Ditncdin and Wellington. The delivery as hitherto practised in Auckland wi)s no gain whatever to the department, as owners were only charged Is 3d per ton, the price paid to the contractor for delivery. As the private delivery system had worked well in other places, it was decided to bring Auckland into line as far as carting firms are concerned. Inquiry showed that the feeling was one of satisfaction that the change bad been decided upon, because, as the head of one firm remarked, " It gives us all a chance to get some of tiie delivery work." An entirely opposite view was taken of the question by a merchant. "I should much prefer," he said, " that, the Railway Department should continue the delivery of goods. Of course, it will be easy to make arrangements for private firms to deliver our goods, but I think the other was the moro convenient system all round. I know the new idea has been working in TJur.cdiii and Wellington, but they have better station' facilities, and at Wellington there arc two separate lines of railway—the Government and the Manawatu."