PROMISE AND PERFORMANCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1427, 30 April 1912, Page 4

PROMISE AND PERFORMANCE.

WELLINGTON'S SUBURBAN TRAIN'S!.

".Mr. Myers staled that he intended to mako tho improvement of suburban, railway services throu-rhout tho Dominion a featuro of his administration of the railways. (Applause.) . . . .Mr. Myers added that an extension of suburban services would probably not pay immediate y, but he believed it would be justified by tho increased settlement that would be induced by a more rapid and more regular service. —So ran a Press Association message from Auckland, published on Wednesday last. It is not known what, the residents in the suburban districts along the Manawatu railway were led to expect by this statement. Even the most sceptipal among them appear, however, to have been considerably surprised by a brief announcement tacked up in tho carriages a day or two later, announcing that tho 5.20 p.m. train from Wellington to Paekakariki would cease after April 30 to run further than Jolmsonville. This train Ims been running for main* years past, and ils abandonment will mean that passengers for stations between .jolmsonville and Paekakariki will have to travel either by tlio 4.15 p.m. train—far too early for most of them—or the G. 25 p.m. train, which will bo inconveniently late.

Mr. W. H. I). Bell, M.P., on hoarinrr of this proposal to restrict what little suburban service there is on tho Manawatu line, at once telegraphed to the Minister, and received a reply that tho train would be continued for the timo being, so as to enable the residents affected to interview him on the mntter.

Last evening a meeting of Porirua anil Tawa Flat residents was held at Porirua, when a Porirua and Tawa Plat Railway League was formed, with a view to urging; upon the Government tho necessity of providing improved transit facilities from the city. Mr. W. H. 1). Bell, who presided at the meeting, was elected chairman of tho league, Mr. Dowdall secretary, and a committee was also set up. It is honed to bring all the different suburban districts served by the railway into agreement as to the improvements that should be cfl'ccted in tho present timetable.