VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1935, Page 7

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

VIEWS ON CURRENT TOPICS RAILWAY SHUNTING METHODS. OCCURRENCES AT STRATFORD. (To the Editor.) Sir,—We hear a great deal now-a-dbys of how the New Zealand railways service is a first-class business organisation, possessed of the one aim of catering for the public. To guard its interests it is even now engaged in a ruthless war against the highly beneficial road transport services, with the explanation that the railways are capable of providing all the service necessary. On a recent evening I travelled from New Plymouth to Hawera on a very slow mixed train, burying my distaste for that type of travel because of its cheapness compared with the service cars. At Stratford I witnessed what appeared to me astonishing disregard for the property of the State in an exhibition of . the worst railway shunting I have ever seen. The engine of the train on which I was travelling was uncoupled from its trucks and moved out Of the station to shunt sections of them back on to various shunting lines. Once those sections had been propelled on their way there was no effort made to minimise collisions, with the result that one rake, moving at about six miles' an hour; collided with three or four more, some containing loosely-packed sheep, the shock throwing some sheep violently to the floor of the truck, raising a cloud of dust and creating a noise comparable Only to' an explosion. The trucks containing the sheep cannoned off down the line, and were submitted to a similar shock as they ran into the breakdown crane, weighing about 36 tons, further down the rails. The force of each collision can be imagined when it is stated that the crane and attendant waggons were sent off in their turn for several yards. It seems to me that there is something wrong in the Railway Department when it can speak so glibly of service and yet seemingly regard this sort of thing as all in the day’s work, for I understand the noise of such collisions can be heard day and night by Stratford residents. Apart from damage to freight and especially livestock, there is the damage that must result to rolling stock.—l am, etc., TRAVELLER. Hawera, January 11.