RAILWAY SHORTCOMINGS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 75, 22 December 1919, Page 8

RAILWAY SHORTCOMINGS

Sir.—Now that we have a stable Government in power does it not behove all members of the community to point out nnv noticeable omissions in our different public services through the medium of the newspapers, when convenient for the latter to publish them, and thus assist to general satisfaction and efficiency, and minimiso the present discontent and dissension which only breed Bolshevism. Take the railways for instance. Hardly a train is-miming to time outside, perhaps, of wail trains, and the valuable time anil energy which arc wasted, and the irrilablo and nerve-wracking waits are deplorable. Then, again, there is a lack of indication and information boards which is quite astonishing, and, of course, one siinnlr daren't ask a question of a railway ofr.cial nowadays. Despite bitterly cold weather (predicted in Ihe newspapers), and a killinir frost on December 9-1(1. and onl" one sleeping; carriage on tho Auckland (down) express, the heaters were not used, and old men and women and little children were allowed to freeze simply because, I was told, that it was not customary to use heaters during pertain months. Is this not absurd?. Also, there is only one towel for a whole carriage load of passengers. If privato onteroriae allowed this filthy and dangerous custom it would be prosecuted. Surely a towel could lie either hired or sold to eacli passenger if desired. On the New Plymouth express (down) on December 12 tho carriage lamps were not ltehted going through tho tunnels, and the nerves of elderly people and voung children suffered in conscquenoo ■Reserve seat-holdovs must occupy them fifteen minutes before tho start of a train Whv? I always thought (hat people expended time and money on reservations of scats to assist to their comfort anrt convenience. There is not the slishtest doubt. Sir, the general conduct of our railways is deplorable, and the sfoner tho General Manager gels out on. the road and thoroughly awakens to his rcsnonsibilites to the public tho sooner will seneral dissatisfaction cease. Jtv reason for asking the Press to allow ventilation of legitimate omissions Hpomrh their columns is because of the "direct aetit.n" which is meted out to all complaints ti headquarters, at least so I am infouiicd.—-1 am, o'e., Tin? PUIILIC PAYS.