SUBURBAN TRAIN SERVICES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1428, 1 May 1912, Page 5

SUBURBAN TRAIN SERVICES.

MEETING AT UPPER HUTT. Mr. G. D. Benge, chairman of the Upper Hutt Town Board, presided at a meeting of residents of tho district held in the Town Board office on Monday evening to discuss the matter of tho train service between the city and the Upper Hutt—the terminus of the suburban section on the "Wairarapa line. Dissatisfaction and no little surprise was expressed nt there being no improvement provided for tho new suburban time-table to como into operation to-day (May 1). Anion; other things it was pointed out that tho early workers' train was to take a longer time than hitherto; that tho afternoon lehool children's train was not to stop at Wallaoeville, Trentham, or Heretaunga; that the children who now loft Lower Hutt at 3.7 for wayside stations to Upper Hutt would have to leave school halt an hour earlier or wait until after 5.30 before they could get home. The absurdity of putting on a Wednesday night theatre train as an experiment, without publicly notifying its running on tho stations, was commented upon adversely. The need of starting the Sunday train lervico from Upper Hutt instead of Lower Hutt was urged. At present it was iinpossiblo to visit the hospital, attend special services, meet a steamer, or visit a friend without staying the night in tho city. It wns pointed out that though the Lev:er Hutt-lauibton track was built for a 50-milo an hour service, it was seldom asked to do half that speed—in point of fact, soino trains travelled faster uphill, from Lower Hutt to Upper Hntt, than they did on the flat from Lambton to Lower Hutt. It was contended that Tβsidents of a district shovld bo consulted before alterations were "uade, and that projected changes should be notified beforehand, so that their effect might bo commented upon before they wero put Into operation. At present surprises were sprung on residents more often than not to their detriment. Praise was iccorded the train staff for courtesy, but it was the unanimous opinion of the meeting that those rosponsible for tho time-table were not in sympathy with the travelling public or acquainted with the requirements of tho district. To them the railway was a "fetish," to which local residents' interests and comfort were sucrificed.

It wa3 decided to ask for a fifty minutes' service inward and outward, for one train from from Uppor Hutt in the morningj and ono train from Lambton in the evening; that the 6.15 p.m. train should run through to Upper Hutt instead of the i.29, and thnt the 10.35 p.m. train should run through instead of tho 9.2,5 p.m. train. A committco.consisting of the members of tho Upper Hutt Town Board, councillors for the Mangaroa riding. Rev. J. H. Sykes, Dr. Kemp, Messrs. Natusch, LaingMeason, Bennington, Wright, Kirker, Shaw, R. QuinU, W.' Brown; , 'and A. J. M'Curdy, nns set up. Mr. G. I. Bonne was appointed chairman and Mr. M'C'urdr secretary.

It was resolved to wait upon the Minister for Railways at an early date, and obtain the assistance of the members of Parliament for the city and suburban districts in the unavoidable absence of Mt. T. M. "Wilford, M.P. The committee is to meet on Saturday night to arrange details.