SUBURBS AND SEASIDE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 403, 12 January 1909, Page 6

SUBURBS AND SEASIDE.

TRAINS ON THE MANAWATU LINE,

DEPUTATION TO THE HON. 3. A, MILLAR.

SUBURBAN AREA—2O MILES. Passenger traffic between Wellington and the suburbs and seaside resorts on tho Mariawatu railway was the subject of two deputations which combined their forces for the purpose of making representations to the new Minister for. Railways (Hon. J. A. Millar) yesterday morning. One deputation,- consisting of residents of the district extending as far as Poriruaj was introduced by Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P., and the other, from places as far north as Paekakariki, by Mr., W. H. Field, M.P. Luke said they. recognised that ■ a groat ~ deal of extraordinary work was ■ involved in the taking over of the Manawatu luie, inauguration, of the Main Trunk through service, and the diversion of traffic from the Wairarapa to the Manawatu line, but they hoped that it-would be found possible to give the same facilities on this line as were enjoyed m connection with the suburban area on the Hutt line., , >. Disappointment. r - Field said that they, had been, told that matters'would be greatly improved when the Government 1 took over tho. Manawatu I'l fact, one Minister had said to him that the land would go up ; at least £1 per however, Tiad not been the case. He did not suggest that it was' the fault of -the Minister or of. the Government, but it was a fact that things had hot: been quite so good as before. • The' Wednesday and Sat-, uraay tickets had been stopped, and although the week-end-tickets which had' been substituted were, a great boon to, many people, they did not meet the requirements of those who wanted to go out and back for a day at the sSMide; . ;He gladly - acknowledged 'the value of having officials placed in'charge of stations where there were none before,; as lie and others had often; had. goods that were .consigned to them taken away. Thb time-table, ; .however, had not been'improved. The.trains at first were less punctual than under the company, but' now: they were: practically as punctual, as before. He was aware that it was the intention of'the Minister to run tho trains to pay, and he agreed with that aim. He .had never -approver! of. the 3 per cerijt. policy. ' When, there was a set-back,. a little while ago,: people, forgot the concessions, they, had received, and only remembered tho shrinkage in-the revenue,, and the Government consequently lost a lot of support.

A List of "Wants." < ! Mr. Field then, read a list of. the demands of, the-depu'tatioii,: as follows :— ; (1) All stations within 25 miles of Wellington to be brought within the suburban area, 'as on tlio Hutt line. . . ' . (2) Paekakariki (27 miles' from' -Welling'ton) to.be included also. They subinitted that the. population and the chances of remunerative traffic. between Johnsonville .and'.'Paekakariki was as great as between Lower and Upper'Hutt. The 25 mile limit would take in Plimmerton. : ■ ;.•;■••.- i - - : (3) Services to be so.arranged:that-passen-gers to. Wellington,-from any, place up-to Paekakariki could reach the , city' by- io a-'m; and ■re turn : between 7 and 9 p:m. iAt present some,of them could not get in before ,11.30 a.nii,'and they had to leave.ngairi- at 4in the afternoon. . ~.•: : ;.: .; ;. (4). A morning train from Paekakariki'' to town, leaving later than the p'resout ,C.'4o a.m. train, which meant.getting up almost in tho. !middle of the night, arid took o /or, tu o hours to get tb town. ; train, Wellington to. .Iqnnspnville, to run, on to, Paekakariki, - arrving there about 6.50. :At present there was' ro train between'4.ls. and'6.2o.

(6) sho single day return'tickets issued by the company, and since stopped, to be reinstated. • • "/ (7) A ..train ' from town on Saturdays . between the 4.15 and the 11,. P.m.They would like the 9.30 jj'.m. to Joh'n'soriville.to run-on tq-Paekakariki. . vv - : (8) A train'from Otaki to town and back', to.be run on Sundays, as well as the train from, town. to- Otaki and' back.', .Thoy hoped these', Sunday 'trains would -be run all- tl : e year round.' . . - • If. all'these requests could not be granted, they, hoped that the of' the . suburban area, as in the Hutt Valley, would least be conceded. .. Mr, .Field, also asked that a 'stationmaster should be placed at, Parema'ts, m the station served a large number' of. rettlers at'Pahautanui,. and in the district.- : • . . ' <„ Professor Kirk also-spoke in-favour ;of the extension of the suburban area and the desired improvements,,in the : time-tablei -■ Residents at' present, had to -spend much-of their time. ,-in; the .morning - and ' afternoon f brawlers, 1 ' . and ■ if... these were expedited mjiny more would travel. He also endorsed the request for the re-issue of the Wednesday and Saturday, day return . tickets,' and, spoke of the need for a water; supply and latrines at-Plimmcrton Station. ,

Onslow Requirements. ' Mr. J. 6. Harkness, Mayor of Onslow, said that ; the. residents . of' Crofton, Khandnllah, | and Johnsonville had held a meeting and sent in requests. to the .Government, two months I agoi but had had rio reply! Ho wished now to ask that'the 5.20 train, should. depart, from Wellington a few minutes later, so that men would not have to leave their work' before 5 p.m. . The o.3ft p.m. should start from Wellington ; at' 10; for tho convenience of those attending meetings, in town.' Again, the 1.20' p.iri., one of the largest trains out of Wellington, excepting the expresses, was unduly late for men leaving their work' at noon 011' Saturdays. , The ,6.20 p.m. .from Wellington should run on Saturday, as- on other days; and this would be a very great convenience, and would increase, the: traffic. ■ At present there was nothing between 4.15 and 9.2o,'and this was vory. inconvenient' to residents coming for, tlie afternoon with their families. '- 'The 'Hon.' T. K. Macdonald, M.L.C., Mr. J. W. Braithwaite, ■ and residents of Paekakariki, Titahi Bay, and Johnsonville, also spok.e. Tho Minister's Reply. ; '■ The ,Minister,, in reply, said ho could not give a 'definite : ariswer .to any request tha't had.been made. It was scarcely, fair to blame the /Government;,for .'all tlie inconvenience that had occurred. The Department, besides taking; over, tho Manawatu line, had had to provide for-; the traffic on the 'Main' Trunk' line, and there had hardly been 'time to get into working, order..There could -be no in-' crease in the number of trains until certain improvements . were . completed, nor could there bo any acceleration of speed. The line was ; carrying.- up to its. maximum', capacity', though; at,,.present there-..was .practically no timber coming downvfrom the Main Trunk. He - had; decided that' the suburban' area should not bo extended anywhere in ,New Zealand beyond'2o miles.'' Upper. Hutt'was'.2l miles from Wellington; rind that - extension was made before he took office. ' The 'conditions- of the suburban area would apply to the Manawatu lino. He would go into the whole question, and seo what could be done with the time-table. He did not expect/every train to' pay. every, day, but iif a 'train did not pay. over a period. of three months,'- it would not be continued. He did not see how an hourly service—for tho deputation had asked almost for that—could bo granted, and ho could not resume 'the Wednesday tickets, as they would be asked for all over New Zealand." ( He-wantwl to do as, much as he could, for the .people, while conserving the revenue" of the" country. He did riot know if he could make the'railways earn any moro than they wero , earning, but he was not going to make them lose any. more than they were losing. Tho matter of station, accoinmodation' was . receiving' attention. He was aware' it was not what it ought to he.. The necessary conveniences would, be provided at Plimmerton, and also a water supply if not too expensive. .He was not.in favour of. increasing the Sunday services, as the employees had a right to be considered, and they needed a day of rest. . -

. Replying to a further request for a flag station between Kliandallah and Crofton, Mr. Miliar Baid ho would look into the matter, end Boa what could bo done.