INDIGNANT EXCURSIONISTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1322, 28 December 1911, Page 4

INDIGNANT EXCURSIONISTS.

I'KCUMAB RAILWAY METHODS,

A batch of about 100 excursionists travelling from Hotorua to Auckland found themselves fucti to fuco with an unexpected contingency on arrival at Fninkton Junction in tho cheerless hours preceding daybreak on Saturday morning (says the Auckland "Stiir"). They had Iwokod tlirou b 'li to Auckland, mostly on returu holiday tickets, and had como down by the ppt-chl train running from Hotorua on Friday night us far as i-'runk-ton Junction, their object being to proceed on to Auckland by one of the through trains from Wellington. Tho lirat Main Trunk express passed through, but, in pursuance of advertised practice, no wayside passengers were allowed to entrain. Then, after a wait of about three hours, the second train arrived from Wellington, and tho belated ones were told that they might go on by this providing limy paid the- full fare between Fraukton Junction and Auckland. Indignation was freely expressed, and a few of the more determined spirits actually declined to pay, although they-expressed willingness to contribute the excess as between tho value of their return tickets, ami the ordinary fare from Franklon Junction to Auckland. The names and addressns of fheso travellers, who came on to Auckland, were taken, while official argument succeeded in extracting full •fares "under protest" from tho other ninety or so. These latter have, since arrival in Auckland, formed a deputation to wait upon the railway officials v.iMi a visw to securing refunds, but their only satisfaction thus far is to have been given a promise that (he matter will be i-eferrrd to headquarters. Several cases of hardship arc -mentioned in connection with the incident, chiefly through lamentable shrinkages in the holiday funds of country folk travelling to town with their families.