A CANTERBURY DELEGATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 October 1923, Page 1

A CANTERBURY DELEGATION.

MET BY PUBLIC GATHEKJXG. SOME SPIRITED CRITICISM. OF WEST COAST RAILWAYS. There was a representative gathering at the Town Hall last evening to meet the Canterbury Progress League delegation consisting of Messrs MeAlpine President). Climie (organiser), A. G. Henderson, A. McCarthy and Robson (members).

The Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry) presided and said the meeting had been called to meet the visiting delegation In discuss matters affecting railway administration and other .subjects affecting the two districts. He conveyed a hearty welcome to the town. Dr Tcichclmann (President of the Westland branch of the Progress League) welcomed the members of Iho Pi'ogie-s League, especially as they were there to discuss railway service improvements, lie was glad to know they had come through by train and so knew first hand some of the disadvantages that the people of this district were labouring under. -Mr 1). -I. Evans said there were two things that the Progress League had referred, at a recent meeting, to this gathering. The first was a claim for an

improvement in the present atrocious railway service, and the other was the m i-e.-sil v of an improved mail service to South Westland. At the present time there was only a mail service once a week lo Wniho, and the visitors would know the strong opinion expressed by a recent visitor, Mr Buxton, organiser of the Farmers Union, how serious was this aspect to the people of the district. It was true that flic summer season .service was approaching. hut now that the various streams were bridged there was no reason uh\ they should not hove had the service twice a week. He i-.oped that ihiwould have attention. He understood that at the end of the year alternative tenders lor the service were to he invited. The position of the railway service at present, was that the dLI riel was much better served before

the tunnel was opened than it was at the present time. They had had an interview with the Railway Traffic Manager asking for an improved service hul so far without result. The mailer was of serious import to the district and the sooner the people moved more urgently, the hotter. The conditions at present were a disgrace to the Railway Department. Then' was n

great amount of inconvenience to the travelling public, and there did not appear to he any effort made to improve matters. The Traffic Manager was very nice and polite and listened to their representations, lint that was as far as he went and they did not get the improvements they required, lie was glad to welcome the delegates and assured Llu‘ni of the hearty co-operation of the people of the district in the object. of their visit. He would move—Thai it was the opinion of this meeting that the Gov. eminent should provide a twice weekly mail service between Hokitika and Wniho. Seconded by Mr .Mclntosh and carried. Mr Evans moved that tin- meeting make further representation to the Railway Department for an improved railway service between Givymoullt and Hokitika, and also the provision of carriages to run right through to their destination, so that passengers would not have to change ai Oremoulh as at present. Mr .Mclntosh seconded and gave an instance of the hardship that was caused aged travellers. It was not understandable why the carriages that come from Christchurch should not ho sent on to Hokitika. A strong protest should he made. [lon 11. 1.. M rebel supported, lie felt they need not stress the importance. Their visitors who had arrived that evening had had a personal experience of the vexatious delays. H seemed an insult to one's intelligence that there should have to he shunting on everv occasion, with the consequent delays, lie felt that the policy of the Department could he summed up in the words, "The public he damned," that he had heard expression given to. He endorsed Mr Evans’ remark that the present service between Greymouth and Hokitika was worse than it had over been. The sooner it was altered the bettor for everybody. They wanted an equally efficient service lo Hokitika thill they had elsewhere, lie tnI>iifcecl the splendid help received from Canterbury ill assisting Westland generally, and said the efforts of the League were thankfully recognised.

Mr T. AY. TJrucrc* said there inis anoilior aspect and that was the* delay in the train leaving for Ross, which on last Tuesday evening left at o to 8 instead of 7 o’clock. Why was there such a delay in the Ross train leaving Hokitika- lie urged eousiderntion to tho phase of the extension of the railway below Ro~s. Air AY. J. liutler said they had an express train, hut unfortunately it was “expressly slow.” (Laughter). The motion was agreed to. Afr Bruce moved that the Railway Department’s attention he drawn to the delav in the time of the Ross train leaving Hokitika of an evening:. Seconded hy lion IT. L. Afichel pro forma, who said he did not think there was so much for complaint in this issue. AH Coulson supported, stating the train should he run to timetable, instead of having those repeated vexatious delays.

The motion was agreed to. Afr AY. R. Ale Alpine expressed his pleasure at being haok in Hokitika again. Their journey this time was not so pleasant as the previous visit as they had come right through by train. ’1 hey had seen tlie~ Usabilities they suffered under. Their opinion < f some of them were unprintable, "they could safely count on the League endeavouring to help them in any reasonable matter. The principal railway matter at present for consideration was the question of dual control of the tunnel. The penal charge on the carriage of goods due to the dual control was an absolute scandal. If the Government were going to make the railway pay they must consider the traffic. They had hope, by making representations to the Government, to obtain the speeding up of the taking over the tunnel. The traffic through the tunnel was being carried without a hitch. With regard to the trouble at Hokitika they had personally looked into it and saw no reason why there should he at least two carriages for Hokitika put on at Christchurch. He thanked them for their kind references to themselves and the Canterbury Progress League. They recognised the value of the local branch of tho League, which was proving of decided value. He thanked them again for their very kind reception. Mr A. G. Henderson said they had had an experience on their way T to I. -SS'-S'c''' ,“* S., '■ ' ■ ' - , ■

Hokitika. At Greymouth he had taken the trouble to enquire why the carriages were not run through to Hokitika. so as to do away with the necessity of changing at Greymouth. The explanation given by the Traffic Manager was that there was not sufficient first class passengers to warrant the carriages being sent on. As far as lie was concerned he did not wonder at it. as the first class carriage that they travelled in from Greymouth to Hokitika was not as good as the second class carriages that were in use in Canterbury. He recognised that m lour of Xew Zealand can be complete without a visit being made to this district. He could not understand why the Railway Department should insult visitors to the West Coast h.v making them put up with the service they have to on this line today. It was an absolute disgrace. ITe was going to take up the matter when he got hack whether the League did so or not. and he assured them that his pro tesi would he a forcible one. The Railway Department were not going to get people from Canterbury to travel h.v rail it they lmd to put up wilh such a service as they had here :u present. It was the worst piece of management in Xew Zealand at the present time—without exception. And this so-called service was an express

service, a tourist service, running on the eve of the opening of their hip; exhibition. It was ridiculous beyond words. Ho hoped they would not miss any opportunity of publicity for that exhibition. They should make the exhibition public in every possible way He was glad to be present but was very sorry to have had that day’s experience on the train between Greymouth and Hokitika.

Mr Robert McCarthy (member of the Progress League) was glad of the opportunity to visit their town. He said since he had left Otira in a motor car the experience he had had was ollc ot the best he had ever experienced. He was delighted with the fine scenery, ft was most important that the railway service should he as near perfect as possible, lie urged every possible publicity being given to the management of the Railway Department that they objected to. By that moans only would they he able to obtain an improved service. As a member of the Canterbury Automobile Association he was over here specially to look into the condition of the roads. There was nothing that put the Railway Department on its mettle more than having an opposition motor service doing the same journey, lie was going into the question of the completion of the direct road between Hokitika and Greymouth and would give every possible assistance to have that completed as soon as possible. The Canterbury Automobile Association was prepared to assist in every possible

Dr Tcichelmaiin said for years they had been trying to get assistance for their tourist routes. The Tourist. Department. were deal’ to their appeals for assistance, lie diet not think the Tourist Department spends £‘loo a year in the district. Mr R. R. Climie said he had received a letter from Ihe Progress League in reference to the requirements for tourist traffic, lie was glad to see their friends Messrs Graham of Waiho, present and would take the opportunity ol discussing southern requirements with them the next day. With regard In the train service between Hokitika and Greymouth. that had already been bo I ore I :ie Canterbury League. They had a suggestion from .Mr Stringleman, a former District Engineer that an improved service should lie given and pro-

liahly I hat would lie given effect lo shortly. lie thought there was a fairchallee of something being done to improve the preselll very unsat isl'actory service, lie could only add his own. personal indignation ill their experience that day. The main object of the visit to Westland was to see how far they c.mld fostei the trade between Canterbury and Westland. For a long lime they had been urging the completion oi the tunnel. .Vow with the linking up of the railway they thought they ought to get a fair share of West Coast trade and lhey were out lo get it and by fair means. The freight rales, in the interest of the Department and themselves should be revised, and they were here with the object of discussing anomalies so that they could make proper representations to Hie right

quarter in due course. Hon 11. L. Michel referred to a number oi tariff matters ami with Mr Berry discussed them ai some length.

M r . \Y. Morris (Secretary of tho local branch of the Progress League) read a telegram received I rum .'sir I'Yiineis Bell notifying thal it would he possible for himself and Hon .1. (■'. Coates to visit Hokitika on 10th Xov,, if suitable, for the proposed Otira tunnel celebration at Hokitika. It was resolved on the suggestion oi Air I'lvans to reply staling it was considered advisable in view of the early opening of the Hokitika Kxhibition to defer the visit of the opening day when the celebration, could fittingly take place, especially as the Railway Department had not yet taken ovof control of the funnel, and su the child ren’s outing to the tunnel could not he arranged yet. Hon If. L. Afiehcl then moved a hearty vote of appreciation of the visit of the delegation whom they were delighted to have with them.—Seconded hy Dr ToLohelmann and carried with acclamation. Air M/Alpine returned thanks for their hearty welcome and a vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding terminated the meeting.