THE RAILWAYS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2588, 24 August 1909, Page 5

THE RAILWAYS.

STATEMENT BY HON. J. A. MILLAR. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 23. “It apears to me to be unnecessary in many cases to provide a dady goods service for all the small wayside stations in New Zealand, - ’ remarked Iho Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Bailways, to a “New Zealand Times” representative yesterday. “A eoru.xerable saving can be •■rfecsjd ly fxing some of these services at so many days per week. At prese.it goods are Consigned to small flag stations they are received; perhaps a ton of goods goes out in a ten-ton truck, which waits four or five days at the small station. Thus our trucks aie not earning their full capacity, out by fixing certain days for delivery of goods at these small stations, we will not only be able to place more trucks at the disposal of railway users, but we w.'li be able by eliminating the stops to expedite the running of mixed trains. Under present conditions time has to be allowed for a stop and possible shunting at each station, with the result that we have such an undesirable state of affairs as exists on the Auckland to Helensville line, where there are twenty-one stops in 30 miles, and the train takes nearly three hours to cover the distance. By setting apart two or three days per week for the delivery of goods at the small I anticipate that a considerable saving will be effected without causing inconvenience. I am getting a report from each district manager on the subject, specifying the flag stations and the number of days necessary to provide an adequate service during the week. As soon as this information has been secured I will commence the new system.” The Minister gave an indication of how the various economies already effected are working out. An increase of £143,000 is shown in the railway revenue for the four months from April Ist to July 24th, and this has been secured for an increased expenditure of £73,000; or about 50 per cent, of the extra revenue. Such a result is in the highest degree satisfactory, as the period covered is almost the worst during the year. The North Island Main Trunk and Manawatu lines did not come into the previous year’s figures.