TUESDAY, JULY 26, 1921. THE MAIN TRUNK EXPRESS.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 653, 26 July 1921, Page 4

TUESDAY, JULY 26, 1921. THE MAIN TRUNK EXPRESS.

•On several occasions representations to the Railway Department have been made with a view to securing the regular stoppage of the Main Trunk express at Pukekohe, The Department has, however., turned a deaf ear to these requests with the exception of permitting the express to V stop here on Sundays. All sorts "of arguments are put forward by the traffic managers in support of the contention that the train should cut Pufcekohe out as a stopping- place* .But will these gentlemen kindly answer the fol‘owing questions :*o that we may publish them for the satisfaction of our readers. Why does the express puli up/at Gkingaiti to drop (Ant or two tourists for Waitomo? Which, is the more important to the country —a few tourists stopping, at an obscure wayside station or a town which has r population of 20,000 within a ten. mile radius, and is one cf the richest 1 agricultural areas in the Dominion. Will tire General Manager of Railways, Mr Willy,, who was so emphatic recently at Whang-arei that the Railway Department would

make any alterations to the timetables if such alterations would pay, but not otherwise: will he deny or atattempt to deny that the stoppage of the express at Pukekohe would pay? If Mr McVidy is really general manager, and not his district trailic managers, whom we shrewdly suspect are the power behind the throne, then he cannot advance one reason based on common business sense for the continued glaring injustice to Pukekohe. The genius who ordained that the express should pull up regularly at Ohingaiti, which possesses one store, solely for the, benefit of the Tourist Department, may be proud of his achievement, but that it cannot be anyhing other than the crassest stupidity to deliberately deny the same privileges to a rapidly growing town which serves a very prolific dis-trict-must be apparent to anyone not blinded by red tape or prejudice. The General Manager is due to visit this district shortly. When he does will he defend his action, Ohingaiti v, Pukekohe, and will he let us know if he has the courage to'do what he rceently told people in the North—alter the timetable if it would pay? It will, pay to stop the Main Trunk express regularly at Pukekohe —the onus is on Mr McVilly to prove' that it will not.