SATURDAY. JANUARY 31, 1885 Two Serious Grievances

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 97, 31 January 1885, Page 2

SATURDAY. JANUARY 31, 1885 Two Serious Grievances

We have observed in our "Exchanges" received from every part of the colony that two Departments of the Civil Service are receiving a great amount of attention and are subjected to much adverse criticism. These are the Railway and Telegraph. In the case of the former the dissatisfaction seems universal, and no sooner does one grievance sink out of sight in .the -official mind, than another rises up in its place. For a long time the grain and timber rates were continually the subjects discussed at public and private , meetings, and the grain tariff was one of the immediate causes of the downfall of the Continuous Ministry. The numbers engaged in the timber trade have not been united enough to obtain any political power which could be used for the purposes of either affecting the standing of a Ministry or of obtaining concessions to which they were, and are yet, justly entitled. However," these evils have been removed by. a reduction in the grain rates so that the' Canterbury and North Otagp powers have been conciliated so far, ana the timber trade, would stand a fair chance of being smothered out of existence altogether if it were dependant on the railway alone to convey it to a market. The grievances which are now being discussed are the unsatisfactory arrangements which obtain for the conveyance of passengers, the unequal scale of rates, the continued changes in the time.tables, and the want of publicity given by insufficient advertising of such changes. The mode that obtains is to print half-a-dozen posters, which are distributed to the licensed houses; where they are placed prominently or not, as it may suit the proprietor, who is not likely to work against his own interests by encouraging his clients to take train to another place on holiday seasons, and spend money away from his own hotel. The thing is absurd. There are also persons whose business and personal habits prevent them frequenting hotels, but who would be glad to know of any train time alterations, or excursion trains running. Information should be conveyed to these through the Press. "This would not only be a convenience, but a direct source of profit. As a case in point, we are aware of over £30 being lost to the revenue on Boxing Day, because the people in One part of this district were in complete, ignorance of the train arrangements for that day. They were compelled to call vehicles and horses into requisition instead, to visit the Feilding and Palmerston sports: "Where the Telegraph Department is found faulty in the working, is in the transmission of Press telegrams. The Manawatu Times the other day said : "We have to complain of the delay which frequently takes place in the transmission of telegrams from Wellington. An instance occurred recently, in which a Reuter's telegram, containing important news, was lodged in the Wellington office at 3.15 p.m. and did not reach us till 4.15, having taken just an hour in transmission. Of course it was too late for insertion, and we were compelled to publish as an ' " extra " news which should' have been received in ample time for publication in the ordinary manner." The same thing has frequently occurred; to us. It would be a mistake to suppose that any of these evils are new, or have only sprung into existence since the recent, changes in the Government. They have existed for years, and it is only because the public and the Press believe that under the present regime an attempt will be made by Heads of Departments to popularise their several services by recommending changes which. their present official superiors will be likely to authorise or accept. We have no fault to find with either the railway or postal officials. Individually and collectively, they are the hardest worked men in the colony, and the general efficiency of both services is excellent, hut on the points we have mentioned reform is required and can be effected with very little effort.