EARLIER MAIL SERVICE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5094, 4 March 1927, Page 2

EARLIER MAIL SERVICE.

AUTHORITIES TO BE APPROACHED

GREAT ADVANTAGE TO DISTRICT.

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE UNITE.

A large and enthusiastic meeting of

representatives of the Paeroa, Te Aroha, Thames, and Waihi Chambers <-f Commerce was held at the Paeroa Borough Council Chambers on Wednesday evening to discuss a proposal to have mails carried on tjie steam car service, which leaves Frankton Junction nightly at 10.30 o’clock, in addition to members the various chambers Mr C. E. Macmillan, M.P. for Tauranga, was present. His Worship the Mayor of Paeroa (Mr W. Marshall) was elected chairman of the meeting. A number of apologies for unavoidable absence were received, including one from Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P.

In outlining the proposal the Mayor explained that the matter had originated with the Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce, which had been working enthusiastically on the proposal for some months. In order to give every chamber an opportunity of discussing the project, and so that expressions of opinion could be obtained, the To Aroha chamber had arranged the conference of chambers interested. The idea was, briefly, to have mails carried on the steam car, so that business men would receive their lette-s at 9 o’clock each morning instead of very much later in the day, according to the location of the town. If the service could be arranged it would mean that mail posted at Auckland at 5 p.m. would be delivered in the Thames Valley and Goldfields at 9 o’clock the ’following morning. The advantages and convenience of. suc.i a service would be an inestimable boon to all concerned.

In explaining the steps taken in the matter to date Mr J. Cochrane (Te Aroha) said that a similar service was in vogue between Frankton and Cambridge, where a subsidy of £l3O a year was paid, and he could not see why a similar service should net be arranged for this part of the province. Te Aroha was satisfied that the object could be achieved, and his chamber had worried the Railway Department and members of Parliament, with the matter, but so far without result and it had now come to the end of its tether. Concerted action was necessary, and, recognising Paeroa as a natural centre, his chamber had decided to call the conference at Paeroa. The Te Aroha chamber was prepared to defray the cost of a special compartment in which to store the mails, if it would assist the department In any way.

Mr W. J. Willcox (Te Aroha) endorsed the remarks of the previous speaker, and said that he believed the project could be brought to fruition if united action was taken. The Te Aroha chamber had taken the initiative in getting the night train through to Auckland, and the advantages to the district were many. He could see no. reason why the mail service could not be tried but. The train service was now firmly established, and was well patronised. In fact, the steam train was now recognised as a schedule train by the railway Department. In answer to Mr Macmillan,-M.P., Nir Cochrane said that the Te Aroha chamber had been advised' that the project was impracticable because of the lack of provision on the train for carrying mails. However, as previously stated, the Te Aroha people were prepared to pay the cost of providing a container or separate compartment.

Mr W. M. Jackson (Waihi) said his chamber was heartily in accord with the proposal, and would do all it could’ to bring the matter to a successful conclusion. So far as Waihi was concerned, the inward mails were not delivered until nearly 1 p.m., while the out-going mail closed at 4 p.m.. Obviously, the time was far too short to enable business men to give consideration to their mail and reply by return. Dr, J. B. Liggins (Thames) congratulated the Te Arolia chamber on the initiative it had shown in the matter. He pointed out, that Thames was the end of tlie railway, and there was about an hour only at the disposal of those who wished te reply to correspondence by the return mail. The Thames people were probably more interested in the project tjia.n any other district. His chamber had also made representations to the departments concerned, but without avail. He believed that, suitable arrangements could be made for the safe custody of the early morning ■mail on arrival at Thames. The Thames chamber had also written to the Brett Printing Co. in connection with the matter, but, the letter had not been acknowledged. The chamber heartily endorsed the suggestion, and would do all it could to achieve the object.

Mr P. Williams (Paeroa) stated that his chamber was heartily in accord with the proposal, and was; willing to give the matter all the help it could. The convenience of the service to business people would be great. Mr S. Peebles, chief postmaster, Thames, explained that he could net make any promises on behalf of his department. The matter had also been represented to him and he had forwarded the request to the head office. His idea of the matter was to provide a suitable receptacle at the various railway stations for tlie train staff to put the mail matter in. If that could be arranged the letters could be delivered at Thames at about 8.30 o’clock each morning. In reply to Mr Peebles Mr Cochrane said that the carriage of outward mails by the steam train had not been asked for.

Mr Pe*3bles pointed out that in addition to the mails carried by the Railway Department there were also mails carried by steamers to both Paeroa and Thames three days a week. He did not think his department would grant the extra mail by the steam car in addition to all the existing services. He would like to receive an expression of opinion an whether the chambers desired to have

parcels, papers, and hampers carried on the steam train. Mr Cochrane replied that .the carriage of letters was all that was required or expected. Mr Peebles gave .it as his opinion that he believed some arrangement could lie made to carry a letter-mail only. He was quite in favour <xf the proposal, but he had to conserve the interests of his department. Mr Cochrane read a letter from the Brett Publishing Co. in which it was stated that the firm would raise no objection to mails being carried on the .steam car, but, it would object to the carrying of newspapers, on ac- - count of the heavy subsidy the firm was paying to maintain the delivery of its own newspapers. RAILWAY OFFICIAL’S VIEW. Mr W. Barrett, traffic inspector, N.Z. Railways, Frankton Junction, outlined the dimensions of, the steam car, which has seating accommodation for 48 passengers only. Passengers’ luggage was very restricted, and the carriage of parcels and perambulators, etc., was discouraged owing to lack of room. The steam car was designed f-r suburban runs, and it had to be remembered thrt owing to the subsidy paid by the Bret,t people the department was in duty bound to conserve that firm’s interests and maintain the service. Apart from the iact that there was no space Tor the carriage of mails, the time of the guard during the run was fully taken up issuing and checking tickets, as no station on the r ute was open to the steam train service. The onus for the safe custody of mails carried on trains was on the guard, who under the present regulations must obtain a signature for all mails received and delivered. The steam ear was a recognised serivce, and while the department was anxious to cater for the public, there were no facilities for handling mails, and for that reason t.he request had been declined.

A member asked if the department would undertake to make provision for a mail service.

Mr Barrett replied that so far as he could, answer the question, it was largely a matter of expense. To take off the steam car and replace it by an ordinary train would mean an additional expense of about £7 6s a trip in coal consumption alone. There was no provision tbr the fitting of a trailer to the car, as had been suggested. If the necessary facilities could be provided his department would certainly be favourable to carrying a mail letter service. The Railway Department, however, took a serious view on matters affecting postal services, the carrying of mails could not be treated lightly. Mr Cochrane suggested that a space for letters could be provided on the steam car by removing two of the back seats.

Mr Barrett said that certain definite space had been allotted to the Auckland newspapers and it would not be encroached upon. The department would not offer any serious objection to the carrying of mails so long as the service was warranted. The representative attendance at the conference that, night impressed upon him that the matter was one Of considerable importance. As such he would convey the request of the meeting to his superiors and ask .that it he given earnest consideration. He would like to have an assurance that the chambers of commerce would instal facilities for the holding Of mails : n the railway stations. Mr Cochrane replied that the chambers had very little money available, but Mr Barrett could rest assured that, every assistance would be given the department.

Mr S. F. Board (Te Aroha) gave it as his opinion that if one seat in tae „ steam ear was removed the mail matter could be placed in bags and stacked into a very small space. After further discussion, the follow-' ing resolution was moved by Mr Cocnrane and seconded by tjhe Mayor of " Paeroa:—

“In the opinicin pf this representative meeting of Chambers of Commerce and the leading dairy companies in the combined districts, supported by business representatives from Paeroa, Te Aroha Waihi and Thames, there is no insuperable reason h hy the objective of the meeting should net be which is theinauguration of a nightly letter mail service to be carried by the steam car leaving Frankton Junction at' 10.30 p.m. daily, and that representations be immediately made to the Postmas-ter-General and Minister of Railways praying that the request be granted.” The resolution was carried unanimously.

A vote of thanks to the Mayor for' presiding was carried with acclamation, and the general wish was expressed that much good would result from the conference.