THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 1881. RAILWAY IMPROVEMENT.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2238, 4 June 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 1881. RAILWAY IMPROVEMENT.

Me. Oliver, in bis address at Dunedin recently, mentioned one or two points in connection with the management of the railways which, though perhaps small comparatively, wo yet hope will be regarded as legacies by his successor, and carried to a practical issue. Mr. Oliver says that before ho loft office the question of introducing the American system of checking baggage, and also the establishment of a night train between Dunedin and Christchurch, had been under consideration. Both these points, it seems to us, are of very groat importance, as tending, if carried out, to greatly increase the public convenience afforded by railway communication throughout the country. First, as regards the question of luggage. Xo one who has travelled any distance on our lines can fail to have boon most disagreeably impressed with the total inefficiency and utter bewilderment of the present system. The luggage is thrown into a heterogeneous heap on arrival at the station, and passengers have to stand around, happy, if after a quarter of an hour’s delay,-they are enabled to rescue their property from the chaotic mass—considerably the worse for the contact. In the case of ladies travelling alone, it is simply disgraceful. They have either to

push and elbow their way through a surging mass of passengers, each intent on rescuing his particular belongings, or wait patiently till everyone else is served, and then got their luggage. This is certainly not what it should bo, and anything that would tend to alter so undesirable a state of things would be regarded as a great boon. In the case of persons arriving here by sea—particularly dramatic or other companies—it is long odds whether the whole of their luggage arrives safely at its destination. It involves worry and trouble, endless journeys to the railway station, and perhaps to Lyttelton, whilst after all it is more than probable that the missing luggage is not recovered for some days. Now, with the American system, which is simplicity itself, no such state of things could occur. A passenger taking his ticket receives from the porter brass checks, numbered, the counterparts of which are fastened to his luggage. On arrival at his destination, all he has to do is to hand the checks to the drayman or express driver, who proceeds to obtain the luggage without trouble. It is a system so easily worked, and yet so thoroughly effective, that the wonder is that it has not long ere this been adopted. It would do away with half the disagreeableness of travelling, and especially to ladies, whose impedimenta on a trip is generally extensive, it would bo a great boon. We should then see no more of the unseemly scrambles which can be witnessed any night on the arrival of the express, and no matter how much luggage was brought, there would bo an absence of confusion and ease of delivery which would be worth a large amount to secure. This question will, therefore, we trust, receive the attention of Mr Oliver’s successor as a much-needed reform. The establishment of a nighttrain between Dunedin and Christshurch opens up a wider question, but we think the Government would do well, oven from a revenue point of view, to carry it into effect. That it would he a great boon to the mercantile and travelling public generally there can bo no question. It would enable a man to do business personally in Christchurch or Dunedin without the very large waste of valuable business time now rendered necessary. A train leaving here after business hours would reach Dunedin just before the commencement of business there the next day. Thus a man would be enabled to do all he required prior to leaving, and ho ready for the transaction of whatever took him southward, without losing any time in travelling that could otherwise have been profitably employed. As it is now the whole of the business part of two days is consumed on the journey to Dunedin and back, whereas, by the plan proposed, only the period which would otherwise he devoted to rest or recreation, would be so employed. Thus it seems to ns, whilst the expense of running the train desired would not be enormous, the increase of the revenue from passenger traffic would be largely increased. As it is now, many a business man is deterred from travelling, or only does so when absolutely obliged, because of the great waste of time and enforced absence from his business. With a night train this would not occur, and, therefore, we think that this second point, as well as the one already referred to, is worthy of careful and earnest consideration by the Government. If no other results flow from Mr. Oliver’s administration of public works than a reform in the present barbarous system of delivery of luggage, and tba establishment of a night train between the two centres of population in the Middle Island, the public as a whole will have cause to be thankful to him.