AN APPEAL TO PATRIOTISM

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3047, 7 April 1917, Page 8

AN APPEAL TO PATRIOTISM

The very admirable statement of the position of the Railways Department made by the Minister of Railways to the deputation of suburban residents which, waited on him on Thursday last should appeal to the common-sense as well -as to "the'patriotism of our. citizens. The deputation pointed out the inconvenience and hardships which Hutt and Petone residents would suffer under tho proposed curtailment.of. the suburban railway services. ■ They showed beyond all question that the cutting down of the services in the manner planned would interfere with the business arrangements of "different groups of workers; disturb existing methods of overtime work in certain occupations; and upset tho night studies of youths attending the city for technical and other instruction. In ordinary ..times the case in favour of a continuance of night trains would be overwhelmingly, strong. It must be clear to everyone that the new _ arrangement must prove of serious consequence to.residents in the Hutt Valley. But wliile .making recognition of these . facts,, it must be equally plain that the _ sacrifices which the Hutt Valley residents are called on .to make are not needless sacrifices prompted merely by a disregard on the part of the Railways Department for the interests of suburban residents. As . wo havo pointed out on previous occasions, and as tho ■ Minister of Railways has stated, the curtailment of the services is the last thing the Department would desire. It means financial loss and a complete disorganisation, of existing ■ arrangements which will entail heavy work and worry on those who have to plan out the new time-tables and readjustment of the work of the staff. There could be only one justification for the changes proposed, and that Is the compulsion that arises from necessity._ Men are wanted for the ■ fighting lines—that is the first necessity of the hour., How urgent that necessity is ' may bo judged from what is happening in Britain ■ at tho present timo, and from the hints recently dropped by the Minister of Defence. The more men the Allies have available to put into the field during the next few months tho better tho prospect of ending the war this year. It is in the interests of all that there should be no slackening in this respect. The Railway Department must cither cut down the_ railway services or cut out from military service the men it employs who are eligible to Berve in tho fighting ranks. It has been declared that eligible men iu the railway service cannot bo spared from the military forces. It is the duty of the Government and of the' Department to release these men for military service as a national necessity. The trains which will in consequence be cut off are not a national necessity, but a personal convenience'. That is the situation as we see it,' and as.it was presented ■ by Me. Herbies on. Thursday, in i his reply to the deputation. Na- ■ tional necessity must be considered before personal convenience or indi--1 vidual hardship. We are quite in ■ accord with the deputation in its < desire that if possible one night • train should bo included in tho se-r- ---■ vice, but-only if this can fie done • without interfering with the main > purpose. ' If it'is possible to run ' sucha train • without doubling the 1 shift—that is' to say, on an over-

time basis—then undoubtedly it would afford a great measuro of relief, and should be done. But it must be borne iri. inihd that' a.concession here and another there may very soon nullify the saving in manpower which in aimed' at, and so defeat the object in view. At the risk of appearing inconsistent wo must again impress, on the .Minister the imdesi'rableness of putting; oft the Sunday troop trains. Alr. Herries says this matter rests entirely with the Defence authorities:; If this is the case, then we trust the Minister of Defence will request the railway authorities to-continue r to run these trains. The opportunities of the men in camp for visiting friends and relatives in'the city will be greatly reduced by. the cutting off of the night trains and the least that can be done tor them is to make it possible' for their friends to visit them, or for them to travel to the city on the-one day in the week on which they are'freo from duty.