TRANSPORT AND INDUSTRY.

Southland Times, Issue 18619, 18 August 1919, Page 4

TRANSPORT AND INDUSTRY.

Representatives of the sawmilling industry were able to show the Prime Minister and Minister of Railways on Saturday that unless provision is made for carrying timber on the railways the mills wilf have to close down within a few days, throwing the employees out of work. The millers have been staving off the evil day by employing their hands in stacking timber in the mill yards hut the available accommodation has been exhausted and unless some of the timber is taken away the mills will be compelled to cease work. Over 2000 men on the Main Trunk line are affected, and there must be over 400 in Southland. Some mills have already closed down, but the pinch of general unemployment has not yet been felt. A general stoppage in this industry would affect practically all sections of the community. The case for the sawmilling industry is clear cut and capable of being stated with precision as to facts and figures, but the fact is that the severely restricted railway service is prejudicing employment in most branches of trade and industry, and it is a matter of urgency that the transport system should be restored as soon as possible. Sutuicions are still entertained in some quarters that there is more behind the railway curtailments than a scarcity of coal, but we must confess that we find it impossible to doubt the honesty and good faith of the General Manager, or to question the veracity of Mr Massey and Mr Herries, who assured the sawmillers’ deputation that the restrictions were caused by a shortage of coal and nothing else. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the expectation that the seamen’s strike in Australia will end to-day will be fulfilled. The position in regard to the dispute is obscure, even to those on the spot, but it has been definitely stated that both at Melbourne and at Sydney the seamen will man the ships to-day. If that should happen hard coal will soon be pouring into New Zealand and the railway services should be extended day by day. At any rate the Prime Minister promised that if the shipping strike in Australia was settled provi sion would at once be made for the carriage of timber, and we may expect other additions to the list of goods carried and the gradual restoration of the time-table to follow.