SAVING TIME

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 90, 13 October 1934, Page 10

SAVING TIME

TRAINS TO PROVINCES

SUGGESTIONS IN HOUSE

Tho provision of improved train services between Wellington and Napier and between "Wellington and New Plymouth, was urged in the House of Representatives yesterday, when the Bailway Estimates were under consideration.

Mr. W. E. Barnard (Labour, Napier) asked whether the Railway Department proposed to improve the service between Wellington and Napier. At the present time it took practically a whole day to travel from Napier to Wellington, and he thought that the Department should consider running a night service and so enable people doing business between the two places to save a great deal of time. It had been suggested some time ago that a night goods train should be run between Wellington and Napier, and if this proposal were adopted it would be an easy matter to attach a passenger car to the train. An improved service to Hawke's Bay would also benefit the people of Wairoa and Gisborne, as it would cut down the time they lost in their journeys to Wellington and back. The Minister of Railways (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) said that it was all a question of the financial returns the Department would obtain from such a service. He would place the representations before the Railways Board. Mr. D. W. Coleman (Labour, Gisborne) supported the request for an improved railway service between Napier and Wellington. The present service was most inconvenient, especially for people living in the Gisborne district. The Government had deprived the Gisborne people of their railway, and the least it could do was to improve the existing service. Mr. H. G. Dickie (Government, Patea) made a plea for a night train from Wellington to New Plymouth. At present it took three days for a Tarauaki business man to transact a few hours' business in Wellington. Mr. Forbes said that tho question of running a night train to Taranaki was at present being discussed by the board. •.'.,■