WELLINGTON TO LEVIN

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 February 1915, Page 2

WELLINGTON TO LEVIN

BY THE MAIN TRUNK TRAINS. AT THE ORDIXAIIY KAKJfiS. I It will bo remembered . that two i months ago tli oGencral Manager of Railways decided that the Main Trunk trains should stop at Levin to pick up and set down passengers, nut it turned out that passengers were expected to pay the WcHington-Palmortson fare. Mr Robertson drew the General Manager's attention to the action of his Department, and pointed out that it wa.s not in accordance with the promise mado when it was decided that (lie .Main Trunk trains should stop at Levin. ■ The General Manager, in reply to Mr Robertson, has now agreed to let Levin passengers travol on AVellington-Levin tickets. Tho following is the correspondence that passer! between the General Manager (Mr Hiley), and Mi Robertson:— E. H. Hiley. Esq., General Manager N.Z. Railways. Done Sir.—■'Re tlie question of the 9.1 D p.m. Wellington Auckland express stopping at Levin to take up or set down passengers. You will T am sure pardon me for complaining of what seems to he a 'breach ".->( faith on the part of your Department to tho people of this district. On th<' first flay of November last, meeting vou on my way down from Parliament Riw'ldings you stopped rue and informed me that as a result of my representations to you on behalf of the people of this district, you had decided that, commencing on tho Ist December you bad arranged for the Auckland train leaving Thorndon at D.lf) p.m. xc make Levin a stopping place for pas sensors. T expressed my satisfaction at the information and asked if you could not see your way to go oven further and make the express passing through Levin early in the morning for Wellington, stop also for passengers •ind so give a service both ways by the Main Trunk express. Your reply was that this could not he done and that vou thought we should be satisfied with what you u-ere doiiicr. You further Pointed out the great advantage if would be to nur people who now arriving in Wellington at noon, would he nble to wait in town till !! p.m. instead of having to rush away by 1.13 p.m. -is now. T hope T did not show mvself of the advantages at anyrate T immediately wired tl7o welcome news to Levin that we wevo at last to get the long-battled for-.advantage of having the Main Trunk express"stop here for passongres. If you remember the conversation referred to above, you will more readily understand the

astonishment and disappointment of myself and others, at finding that the arrangement is not being carried out by your Department. The residents of Levin for instance who, having taken a return ticket from Levin to Wellington, boards. the 9.10 p.m. train at the latter place, finds on board tlie train that he has to take out a

■■"•' """ t'nu. win. to raimorston, and so for the purposes of his journey the retu.rn half of his ticket is nsoless. lam perfectly certain that tins was not the intention in your mind when yen spoke to me on the matter and now I am wondering what has intervened to prevent your" intention being carried into effect on the date promised, viz.. Ist December. 1914. Of course. a.s you know. Tam not at present the Parliamentary ropivsontntive of the people in this li.sjrict. but in the mater under review, as it was to me the undertaking was liiven. 1 hare a keen interest in it apart from_ my interest as a resident of the district. Hoping for an early roplv with kind regards.—l remain, faithfullv yours.—T. ROBERTSON. To this letter Mr Hiley replied:— ■Wellington. . 9th February. 1915.. Sir.—l have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 2-lth iilt. respecting passengers travelling to Levin by the 9.10 p.m. Wellington-Auck-land express requiring to pay fares ~s from Thorndon to Palmorston North, iind in reply hog to inform you that instructions are being issued that as from the Ifith inst. passengers for Levin by this particular train will be allowed to travel on Wellington-Levin tickets. _1 have the honour to he. Sir. your obedient servant. K. TT. HfLTCY, General Manager.