SHORTAGE OF RAILWAY TRUCKS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13893, 3 May 1907, Page 5

SHORTAGE OF RAILWAY TRUCKS.

ADDITIONAL STOCK UNDER CON

STKUCTION. (Peb United Press Association.) • AUCKLAND, May 2. A (Icpnlalion representing tho Chamber of Commerce, the Fanners' Union, and the Hnntly coal miners, also coal merchants and dealers, waited qn- iMr Itonavne, General Manager of Railways, regarding n shortage of trucks, and stated that the coal industry was being crippled, while a loss of _ wages was resulting to the minora. Other industries were also suffering. Mr Ronayno admitted the difficulty, but slated he was doing his best with the etock ho had. Trade was growing so rapidly in Auckland that although 240 trucks had been added a shortage still continued. The material had been ordered for more trucks. One hundred were in course of construction, also 20 largo loco, motives. _ Meanwhile the light rails were beir,*; lifted, and bridges were being strengthened to enable heavier engines to deal with the traffic. Referring lo the carriage of stock, Mr Ronayno said that for some reason or other stock which was formerly carried in six months had now to bo focusscd in three or four nionlhs As to trucks being withdrawn at race times, he might say that it was not a profitable thing for the department- to do it, but people must be carried, and as tho department had not enough passenger carriages, trucks had to be utilised. Of course, there would be an increased number of passenger carriages before long. For the Main Trunk line, which he hoped to see opened towards the end of 1908, 40 carriages were under order, and 20 were at present being made at tho Newmarket Workshops. It was singular that right here in lhe centre of the timber industry the department had difficulty in getting supplies of kauri for car-riage-building. Some of the orders were 12 months, and even (wo years, behind. Mr Ronayno said that Auckland was growing, and to his mind it was going to be on top. Ho might, he said, lie giving offence to the southern neople in saying this, but it was quite right. Auckland' had undoubtedly a great future before it. and it was the business of the department to provide facilities to cope with the great increase in business. For Children's Hacking Cough at night Woods' Great Foppermint Cure. Is 6d &2s od,