KAIPARA TRAINS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 5 June 1919, Page 3

KAIPARA TRAINS.

PUBLIC MEETING AT HELENSVILLE.

FOR IMPROVEMENTS

The prevalent dissatisfaction regarding the Kaipara railway service was forcibly expressed at a public meeting at Helensville on Thursday evening last. The Chairman of the Town Board, Mr J. Stewart, presided over a large attendance. Amongst those present were Major J. G. Coates, Member for Kaipara, Mr C..J. Parr, M.P. for Eden, and Mr H. Aitkenhead (Ghairm an Waitemata County Council).

,^A resolution urging that the present " gap " beyrnd Maungaturoto should be completed with the least possible delay, was carried unanimously.,

Mr Parr, speaking in support of the resolution, said at *the present rate of progress it would take eight or nine years to complete the line. The Auckland Members of Parliament should insist on the work being com" pleted within two years, in order that the 80 miles of line north' of Maungaturoto might be linked up with the 80 miles on the southern side.

A series of other resolutions were also agreed to. It was urged:—

(a) That the pre-war daily ex~ press service between Auckland and Helensville should be reinstated, with the extension to connection with the 'fiorthern train, the departure from Helensville to Auckland to be delayed from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

(b) That., the express service between Helensville and the northern railhead be extended and run on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. That the Railway Department take over from the Public /Works Department the line from Ranganui to Haurau, the latter to be the .railhead. Note: The tunnel at Bickerstaff was built in 1911;

(c) That the present 6.50 a.m train leaving Helensville for Auckland be altered to 7 a.m., the pre-war time-table.

(d) That the present 3.15 p.m. train from Auckland leave at 4 p.m., and to arrive at Helensville at 6.15 p.m.

(c) That the present system of shunting on and off carriages, causing unnecessary delay to the Helensville train at Henderson, to be discontinued. Speaking in support of the motion, Mr Parr said that, as a city business man, the comple- " tion of this line appeared to him to be of the utmost importance to Auckland city and the Dominion generally, and it • should be the first consideration of the Government. Auckland .business people should see that this, was carried out. The benefits- to the city would be ,-■ enormous, and on a par with benefits resulting on the completion of the Auckland-Welling-ton Main Trunk line. Continuing^ Mr Parr said that about three months ago he wrote to Mr R, McVilly, the present manager of railways, urging that the pTe-war express service should be restored. Mr McVilly promised to give the mattsr consideration, but when he (Mr Parr) ■was in Wellington last week he was informed by the General Manager that the Department was hampered by want of coal, and by the fact that 3000 members of its staff, who went to the war, were still absent. Mr McVilly had promised to bear the matter in mind, and to reconsider it at an early date.