RESTRICTIONS ON TRAVEL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 12, 28 July 1919, Page 4

RESTRICTIONS ON TRAVEL

A RAILWAY ANNOUNCEMENT.

The threatened out in passenger traffio on the railways is now finally announced by advertisement, and the Department makes clear the reasons for the further restriction in passenger traffic. It has already been stated by the Minister of Hallways that the restrictions in • services, which were expected to have the ellect of making passengers unwilling to travel, had not actually reduced travelling to the extent that the Department hoped, and that more restrictive measures would have to be taken. Careful observations have been made as to who the people are who are travelling, and it has been iouiid that fifty per cent, of them aro ivomen and children. It is not considered that this can be essential travel, and women will hot be carried in future, at any rate over distances, unless they can show jjood reasons for making the journey. It peoplo desire to change their place of residence, or if the journey is recommended in the interests of the health of the persons travelling or of a near relative, those reasons would be considered good, A wish to run into town for a day or two to attend the winter sales, or for a holiday simply, will not be considered a good reason. Exactly the same rules will apply to men travellers as to women travellers, but as most business is done by men, it is considered that more men will be allowed to travel. But even men will have to satisfy the authorities that it is necessary in the interests of their business that they should travel. Commercial travellers are not' to be allowed to travel simply because they aro commercial travellers. They will have to show that none of the work they are doing can be done without travel.

When an applicant comes for a ticket he will have to answer questions as to his reasons for wishing to make a train journey. If his reasons aro satisfactory lie will be' allowed to purchase a ticket. Perhaps he wishes to book for Wednesday. He may be told: "All the passenger accommodation for Wednesday is already booked; we can book you for Thursday." If a man should coma along wishing, for c. very urgent reason, such as death or illness of a relative, to travel at once, it is quite likely that ho may on occasion bo told that all the passenger space has been booked, but that he may go in the van if he still wishes to make the journey. The harshness of these regulations and the inconvenience they must cause are recognised by the railway management, at least as fully as by anyone olse, but the case is desperate, and only by. reducing passenger haulage can goods traffic be increased.