NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1930, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS

BIG IMPROVEMENT IN SYSTEM.

FARMERS’ UNION DISCUSSION. There was a general discussion on the railway system at the meeting of the South Taranaki provincial executive, of the Farmers’ Union yesterday, when the opinion was generally expressed that an improvement had been effected in recent years. The president, Mr. E. J. Betts, stated that there were often cases of goods lying in the sheds without the consignees being notified. Mr. J. Cocker said that there was rio such, trouble at Eltham, though some stuff came as parcels and other simila. things as goods. That was the cause of the trouble.

„• Mr. J. -Pettigrew said that the goods sheds could ring up when goods were transhipped on to the Opunake line. Mr. W. E. Carter thought that in some instances the classification iof goods was a humbug, and. the higher rate on some goods was giving lorries business.

Mr. Pettigrew said that it was cheaper to transport flour from New Plymouth to Opunake by rail, but bran was cheaper by road. After all a ton was a ton, whether of bran or flour. Mr. E. K. Cameron (secretary) stated that once when he and his wife were travelling he had had to pay freight on the household effects rate on a basinette because it had contained a cushion, classified by the railway officials as a kapoc mattress. .Had he had the cushion in the carriage the basinette would have been charged for on the luggage rate.

A voice: You are lucky you did not have twins! Mr. J. P. Marx declared that most of the railway officers were very courteous and efficient.

Mr. Carter said that it was cheaper for some factories to send their produce away on lorries, though for car-, riage of fertilisers the. railway was mucli cheaper as concessions had been made. It might be better for all factories to send their produce on the rail to retain the fertiliser concessions. There had been a big improvement in the system and he had no ! complaints. Mr. Cameron pointed out that farmers derived most benefit from the classification of goods. . Mr. Pettigrew suggested that the freight on manures might be increased and that on dairy produce reduced. Eventually it ,w. decided to write to the general manager expressing appreciation of the qourtesy practised by some officers and asking for this to be encouraged; also mentioning that it would bi appreciated if consignees on branch lines and at flag stations could be advised of the arrival Of-goods, and a simplification of goods classification would be advantageous. I