SUNDAY MILK TRAIN.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 23 July 1913, Page 2

SUNDAY MILK TRAIN.

We notice the Minister for Railways (Hon. "W". H. Henies) gave an unfavourable reply to the question put before him by Mr Gordon Coates, M.P., as to whether he would provide a Sunday milk train between Auckland and Helensville, which would enable this district to send a large supply of milk to the city of Auckland and also provide communication with the people's mineral springs at Helensville. The application for a Sunday milk train was destined to fail, because Mr Coates was not supplied with sufficient information to m&ko out a good case. What we want locally is a Chamber of Commerce, which would take such matters in hand and sec that substantial evidence is prepared in support of any project concerning public interests. In Ihe course of his reply the Minister appeared to have an idea that because Helensville had not scut a big supply in the past the district was not capable of doing so at present. But we beg to point out that it was by reason of the enquiries for establishing a satisfactory arrangement between local dairymen and the citjr milk dealers that the proposed Sunday train was mooted, as a,daily communication and supply is necessary between the dairy farmers and the dealers. We venture to say that no information was before the lion. Minister as to what milk supply there was in prospect; and Mr Homes, in quoting the expense of such a train at d£22 4s against the milk traffic alone, seems to have ignored the prospective revenue from the other source mentioned, viz., communication between Auckland and the Hot Springs; and with the additional traffic to and from certain suburban stations also considered, the proposal would take a far more substantial form.