SUBURBAN TRAINS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1390, 16 March 1912, Page 6

SUBURBAN TRAINS.

'A' LOWER HUTT DEPUTATION. Protest against defect:! in the suburban tinin icryice between , Wellington and liOwer Hutt were brought under the notice of the Goaoral Manager of Hallways (Mr. T. Ronavno) by a deputation consisting of Messrs. W. B. Bridger and C. G. HayTvard, which waited upon him on Thurs-, day afternoon. ' - Mr.' Bridger referred first to the- subject of ticket inspection. Sometimes, he raid, pnisengers had to show their tickets, three and four times between Wellington mid Lower Hiitt. Hβ thought that numMt ought to be limited in some way. Then (they wanted' to know if the time occupied Pa "the trip could be reduced. Mr. Rinaync: Any particular trains? (It is scarcely feasible to reduce the time )on some -of thein. 1 ■Mγ. Hayward-instanced the 10.11 tram, ■union. Reaernl'ly stopped for from three and a half to.livo minutes at_ Kaiwarra. ttt wits, he urged, also unfair'that time ehould be taken tip at Petone in shunting meat wagons. On the previous day a train had been occupied for four and a ■half minutes in that -way at Potone, and it arrived at Wellington ten minutes late. •It was not fair to passengers to have to iliang about- the sidings while the train went to pick up meat wagons. Mr. Royino , ' said the time taken in shunting-at Petone Junction was three to four ;minutes. Ho had been carefully inquiring into these and finding out if there had been what he considered undue- delays. There were certain trains tlur'iig the day which were not regarded ns important, "and which were utilised for bringing in a few trucks of meat now and again; but it did not result in any .very serious delay, and.the threo minutes joccupied could l>o made up before reach-sug-Wellington. Mr.' Ilayward asked if there was any •reason for Hireo trains in 25 minutes stopping at Kaiwarra and Ngaliauranga •in the afternoon. It was an absolutely absurd arrangement. ■ ..... Mr. lionnyiie said that tho intention ■liad been to cut out one or two stations, ibnt very strong representations had been .made, and as a consequence tho trains ,wero reinstated. Mr. Ilayward urged that if tho 5.0 or the 5.12 'train wero run right through it would not bo any hardship. Mr. Roiiayno agreed. Tho Department, Tio said, was desirous of helping them if it. possibly could.. Ho had spoken io tho Chief Mechanical Engineer and the Chief Traffic Manager about reducing the timn of certain ' trains. Mr. Bridger wanted to know why there fliould bo long waits at Kaiwarra and ftgahauranga. Mr. Konayne said tho only explanation ho could pvo was that tho train pot there too ■early. Tho deputation ivoiild, of course, reply that the timo )hoiild be cut down. Tlio deputation agreed. Mr. Hay ward complained that trains vero frequently kept waiting outsido tho ilutt Station. Mr. Eonayno said that was because there was a train coming in from the Upper Ilutt. Mr. Ilayward referred to the question of ticket inspection. It was, he said, absolutely ridiculous the way in which passengers were postered for their tickets. J)id the inspectors, ho asked, pay for themselves? Mr. Ronayno: "Bather. They wore put on specially for tho purpose of obtaining ■ revenue which was being lost." no would consider a wigpestion made by Jlr. Havivenl that ywrly ticket holdere should be provided with a medallion to wear on their watch chains, bo as to obviate tho necessity of producing tickets. They did not want to have their passenger;," harassed. The real difficulty was how to deal with dishonest passengers. Tho Department had had to tako steps to conserve the revenue; thousands of ponnds had b?en josfc in tlio past. He wonld make inquiries into tho matters , the deputation liad brought bofore him.