SUBURBAN TRAINS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1782, 21 June 1913, Page 6

SUBURBAN TRAINS.

THE FEELING OF KHANDALLAH. Tho Khandallah committeo held a meeting last evening to discuss suburban trains, and more particularly the situation between themselves and tho Minister for Railways, with whom, in conjunction with Mr. W. H. D. Bell, M.P., tho committee has for some time past been in communication. The Mayor of Onslow (Mr. Holdsworth) occupied the chair, and with him on the platform were Messrs Stafford, Anderson, Kirkcaldie, Alderson, and Nicol. . Mr. Holdsworth briefly summarised the position, past and present, as regards communications sent and received by the committee, and called upon thoso interested to state their views. Mr. Anderson, in speaking of a petition to the Minister, suggested that the whole district, as far as Paekakariki, be' systematically canvassed for signatures. ;Mr. Holdsworth endorsed this suggestion, and further suggested that the canvassers be paid by the various boroughs. 'Mr. Stafford (speaking of various letters .from the Department) expressed tho opinion that the letters from tho Minister for Eailways and fsm the General .Manager did not coincide, and that the last communication received by tho comi mittee was likely to completely confuse the issue.

Mr. Alderson dwelt at some length upon the way in which Parliament was apt to consider petitions. He stated that Mr. Bell had advised them to wait until Parliament met, when he would do his best to have the matter dealt with. "This is the first thing we have asked Mr. Bell to do," added Mr. Alderson. Mr. Appleton was of opinion that the petition -would not bo noticed a great deal. He favoured the formation of a Eailway League. With this end in view he moved that the meeting take steps to institute such- a league. Finally,. after further discussion, Mr. Appleton's motion was merged into one moved by Mr. Murray Thompson to tho following effect:—"That this meeting affirms tho desirability that tho two morning trains arriving at 7.35 and 8.15, and tbe two evening trains departing at 5.20 and G. 25 from Thorndon should respectively enter and start from Lambton Station, an<l that the committee already set up with tho addition of Messrs. Darvalf, Munro, Eadcliffe, and Ferguson .(with power to add to their number), see that tho residents of Onslow, JoTinsonville, the Hutt, and Makara be canvassed for the purpose of drawing up a petition -to prosent to Parliament, and that tbe meeting affirms that a Eailway League be formed, to be called the Manawatu and Suburban Eailway League, with the object of promoting better railway facilities." The motion was carried unanimously, and the meeting adjourned.