RAILWAY COMMISSION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16547, 23 September 1919, Page 7

RAILWAY COMMISSION.

OPENING SITTING

Per Press Association.

AVELLINGTON, Sept. 23.

The Royal Commission to inquire into and report concerning tho curtailment of the railway services on July 2 last, held its first sitting to-day, Air. J. P. Maxwell presiding. Air. AL Myers appeared to represent the Railway Department and Air. A. AV. Blair tho Coal Trade Committee.

Mr. R. W. M'Villy, General Manager of Railways, was the only witness examined. He said he entered the railway service in 1877. Instructions for the cut wore given some time before July 2. They wore to aim at a reduction of G 6 per cent, in the train mileage. That then being run wns_l29,ooo miles per week, and the reduction was to 02,000 miles approximately. roughly 60 per cent. Strict instructions wore given that double tending on trains was to bo done away with. Tho passenger services. were drastically cut and the goods service also severely curtailed to provide for tho carriage of essentials, foodstuffs and so forth. He concurred with tho finding of the previous Commission, which held that the rolling stock of the department was in satisfactorily good condition. The cut was practically in operation up to July 2 of this year. There was no suggestion that tho outs of which ho spoke were due to defective rolling stock or lack of engine-power. The Chairman: Then as to this cut on July 2, was that due to the condition of the rolling stock? Mr. M'Villy; Ko, sir. The Chairman: To what then was it duo?

Mr. M Willy: The shortage of coal solely. The Chairman: There was no fault in rolling stock or in the road? Mr. MjVilly; No, absolutely none. Had the coal' stocks been sufficient to carry on there would have been no cut in the service at all. As Mr. IV. D. Hunt, member of the Commission, was absent in the South Island, the Commission adjourned till to-morrow, when the remainder of Mr. MWilly’s evidence will be taken.