RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1439, 14 May 1912, Page 6

RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK.

Sir,—Now that tho Hon, Minister for Railways lias commenced the good work of reform, by providing for the nccossnrv additional trains on tho Wain Tronic lino, it is to Iw hoped ho will do more, n iid provide for the urgently-needed roll-iiifr-stock, so that the workshops may have a chance to keep the cars, wagons, and locomotives in a decent state of repair, and painting. At the present time our trains, outside, of the mail trains, are in -a disgraceful state of neglect, ami Iho vehicles arc simply perishing for thewant of paint and varnish. But our rolling-stock is so inadequate that there vehicles cannot be taken off the road, and the breaking down of locomotives is very frequent. It seems to me that wb require an immediate expenditure of about to place the rollinj-sfock in the Xorth Island in a satisfactory state. That is, provide additional stock, so 'hat the various units of rollinjsliick may be spared from the road for repairs, ere. And while the Minister is on the job, lie might look inio the present very unsatisfactory service in the Wm'rarnpa. At one time a train 'left Wcllinston at 4.45 a.m. daily, arriving at Voatherston at S.'2fl. and leaving at 5.,10. and travelled ahead of the mail train. It left Vealherston on the return to Wellington at G.HO a.m., reaching the latter place at 10.20 p.m. This was a mo«t useful train, and the Wairarapa a reasonably frond service. But for various reaeons, political and otherwise, this train hn« been abolished, and the service broken up. We now have n train ienvitie Wellington at about 10 a.m.. and Arriving at Masterton at fl p.m.! Think of it! Seventy-five miles in ei<rht hours. And the down train leaves Masterton ai 9.30 a.m., and arrives in Wellington nt fl p.m., or about as lone as it takes to run from London to Aberdeen. Time is evidently of no value in the eyes of tlmso who make our time-tables. J (rust, Sir, you will take this matter up, and do what you can to brill? about, an alteration of the present state of railway affairs.— I am. etc., W. IT. FOKUHAM. Wellington, May 5. IM2. ■■■ ■ » ' Woods' Great. Peppermint Cure, U, (id, ' far Chronic Chest Corupiaiiits« It