RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 30 April 1912, Page 8

RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK.

AN EXTENSIVE' BUILDING

PROGRAMME

THE HON. MYERS' PROPOSALS.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April i). Kittansivc' addition is to be, made to the locomotive plant and rolling-stock or Hiy Dominion railways, to s meet the largely-increasing demands on the servieo in various part* of the Domicloa. It comprises" 69' new locomotives and 1,112 passenger cars uttid goods waggons. A review of the .Department's building programme which is contemplated and in ha-nd was given to a "Herald" reporter by tl:© Minister of Railways (Hon. A. M. Myers). "In tho fh>t place," s.iid Mr. Myers, "It is intended to place an order for ten Class A. and D. Lbcpruoti yes. with Messrs, A. an.l G Price, LUL. at the Th?.n:es, in add't on to U-n '^constituting the, order whi-'j Ihs firm i> executing :at the pr;--seiiV'tunu'and-which-'is due to b? com-

pleted attheenioT June, .1913. Messrs,,} Pri/e's-. foundry :k weU equipped fo- tho I

ira'ufar.-tuiv rf '0,0 ivj iy<^/' Mr. M/----ors said,'iirexplanation of this decision, '•In the past, the firm has invariably secured .contracts for locomotive building lei by "tJi? Department ''inside the Dominion!! and, moreover, Meisrs. Price were the only teiiderers for the last contract. Their workshop is equipped with machinery specially adapted for the nvork, and they have a well-trained staff of men who have been employed in locomotive building c;nly. This firm has already constructed no less than 42 locomotives for the New Zealand railways, exclusive of those now under construction, and all engines from its shop have giwn complete satisfaction in everyday working." The Minister sta--ted that the locomotive, building programme provided for the construction of 60 engines, 45 of which were -to be allocated to the North Island, and in addition there are five Class X. locomotives' in Various stngesi of construe-, tion. Tho material for the latter five engines would bo ord<\r<d in good tiju>.' to enable Uie continuity of work to bo niainia'ned ui.t:l it was completed. Mr. Myers remarked that it would be seen that tho major portion of the locomotive programme did go to the North] Island, owing to the' rapid increase in business that had taken p!ace during the last few. years, and probably that increase would be mu.intmTr?d for some considerable time, r.s settlement and development oon-iuued apace. All de-1 ntnnds ivx locrmct've power/it was an-' tioipated, would ba met, and by thy •next holiday season th? pcsit-irtn :n thi-t ■ respect would be. st"one-. Mr. Myrrs stiated the Noi-th1 .-Island pj-oerammmo comprised the construction cf 41 cn-s: 14 bogie waggons, and 780 four-wbeel-d , waggons; .and for th? South I land there were allocated 19 cars, ore brakevan. 13 Ix>.ei3 tvagpo" I*, ard 24-1 fcirwlioeted wageror.s. He exnlndned th«t all pars for ike North Island would b»« i of the />0 feet main trunk typo, and r> they had been ordered specially, for ir.i on the n^nin tr'j»k t»-a:ns between Wr]'in??tD.!i nnd A""k lia7ifl to enaM* the fe--V!O"»; to 1h» duMcit-cd next summr. I