TRUCK SHORTAGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16360, 24 February 1921, Page 8

TRUCK SHORTAGE.

A DISTINCT IMPROVEMENT.

EXTRA MEN AT LINWOOD

A distinct improvement in the truck shortage position was reported this morning. The whole of the new goods shed, number J>, was in full use for the first time, and instead of 800 trucks lying idle, there were only 383. A telephone message at noon said: “ There are ample trucks to keep ail boats going to-day at Lyttelton.’’

“ The improvement began yesterday, and to-day it is fully evident,” said a Railway Department official. “We transferred twenty men from Lyttelton to the Linwood coal yards, and that has proved u great help- Work is going on rapidly and we are getting the empties back to the wharf without delay. Another factor just now is the demand from the country for trucks. Wheat is coming in very fast. Flour mills which had been closed down for overhaul have re-opened, and they wish to get in full stocks of wheat so that thej’ can keep going. In fact the new season’s crop is being rushed in. Then a large consignment of cornsacks was landed from the s.s. Sealda. Those had to be distributed all over the countryside, and that led to the temporary withdrawal of many trucks- . Sacks have to go out before the wheat can com© in

“ There has been a marked reduction in the number of shipping waggons under load. That has been due chiefly to the bringing into use of tho new “D ” shed. Unloading facilities are not available in that shed, but we are taking advantage of the storage space. This morning in the Christchurch and Addington yards, and at the Riccarton racecourse, there were 383 trucks full of cargo, the lowest we have had for a long time. During the past three months the number has gone up to 800.” Statements that out-of-date appliances are causing dela$ T at the Linwood coal yard were denied by the Railway Departniont. It is pointed out that work at Linwood has always kept abreast of steamer output, though as stacks of coal get higher the rate of discharge is naturally slower. “ Trucks used for the storage of goods is one cause of congestion in the yards,” said Mr P. R. Olimie, organiser of the Canterbury Progress League. “ The league will consider proposals to take over a temporary bond store, so that tho goods can be unloaded, and tho trucks used for urgent transport work. Another proposal is that the Government should construct trucks :n this county ”

The manager of a large carrying firm said that the period of inconvenience seemed to have passed. The strike in Wellington had caused no slackening off in carrying work so far, and the new goods shed was proving very useful. At the moment his firm had not a single complaint to make about de* layed discharge.