A GRIEVANCE RE TRAINS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 406, 15 January 1909, Page 3

A GRIEVANCE RE TRAINS.

'.>., '- ±-4' _ ■■ . .'■,'..._. '')"■: Idrury to Auckland. '■'■■'■■ (DY .TELEGRAM.—SPECIAL COKKESTONIiKN'T.) •'.;'' ■",■.-■. January 14. ,■ The proposed curtailment of the Drury-. Auckland train service was subjected to,much indignant protest at 'Manurewa ;last; evening, -when some fifty persons joined in a';pub-' 'lic airing of their grievances. ;'.' -■■ . > ,'. •■:.'' , :.Mr. Godwin Smith, chairman''of the Papakura Eoad,Boa'rd,; presided.. : He said that Manurewa was greatly concerned in the proposed withdrawal of the service- owing to the :fae't of it being an;ihtermediite!station. ''Ho. and'his fellow-boardsmen had only learned of the Departmental proposal through Friday's .paper, and expressions of indignation were so. general that'.a-.'series of public meetings were considered' advisable. Others ; would follow, at "centres interested. .The recent .request of, Mr. 'W;'F. Massey, Leader.of the Opposition',■; for the' Government.to extend, the early, and late seryice to Mercer, was considered to be quite justified; and-the Ministerial.reply to the effect-that these trains were to cease, altogether at the end of the month came as a bolt,from the blue." That they .were,'to'.be' cut 'off ■ after three 'months' ''trial seemed utterly ridiculous from a'business point of view.: •..'■.■*...;V;'' ..'■,' ■■. <, " '":■_ ■:' Mr. C. H. Lupton said, the alteration: would. leave them no bettor off than 'they!, were, thirty .years:ago,, and surely this. was. a sad, thing,, to say of-such a rising, district as, Manurewa. City and country interests We're alike concerned, for the extension.of suburban areas was useless without the Government provided the means of early arrival in 1 the- city and late departure for home. Until the inauguration of .the present ..service, it was not possible !to. reach. Auckland until 9.30 a.m. Now the first train reached there .before nine; o'clock, while, the last left ..for. Drury at 5.20 Country boys .'attending city, schools' should' be given equal advantages with'town students. (Applause.)... Mr; W.H.Neale said a rumourwas current to the effect that railway .employees were protesting; to the Department against the running of late and ; early trains to and from' Drury. Surely civil servants should not bo allowed to run the show. "(Cries of "Certainly not.")' . •■.'.. ' Mr! ..Lupton moved :-r-"That this meeting' earnestly protests against the proposed siis- ■ pension of, the early and, late train service' between Auckland and Drury, and that a petition to.that effect be prepared for signature and forwarded to the Minister for Railwaysvthrough Mr. F. ,W. Lang, MJ?." Mr. Henry Hanch, jun., seconded, and Messrs. E. Moody and J. H. Pohlen supported the motion/ which was carried by ac-' elamation. . -. '■" : A petition in favour of the continuation of the service was drafted; ; and beforo the gathering dispersed forty signatures were attached. The district Will be thoroughly, canvassed during the next few days, so that the petition; may bo presented to the Minister for Railways wlieh ho visits '.Auckland shortly. '. ■-.' '• ' ".'