The Kaipara & Waitemata ECHO WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE KAIPARA ADVERTISER & WAITEMATA CHRONICLE" HELENSVILLE, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23. RAILWAY SERVICE.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 23 October 1919, Page 2

The Kaipara & Waitemata ECHO WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE KAIPARA ADVERTISER & WAITEMATA CHRONICLE" HELENSVILLE, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23. RAILWAY SERVICE.

THE agitation, commenced at Helensville just prior to the famous June "cut" in the railway services, for the restoration and betterment of the express trains on the Kaipara line, was hung up during the above - mentioned drastic " cvi." Since the partial service has been restored, however, matters have been set going again, chiefly through the efforts of the chairman of the Helensville Town Board. Mr J. Stewart, At a public meeting held in May, a number of resolutions affecting the time-table, practically as it existed prior to the war, and for a considerable period during the war, were decided upon, and kid before the then Minister of Railways (Hon. W. H. Herries). Lately these resolutions have been submitted to public meetings at •Waimauku, Kaukapakapa, and Wellsford,. and each of these places endorsed such proposals, with slight local amendments. In addition to thia, practically every local governing body in the Kaipara, Wairoa, Rodney, and other districts affected by the present train services, have had these resolutions submitted to them, with a request that each act upon them in the direction of endorsing same, and appointing , representatives to wait upon responsible authorities in regard to this most vital matter. It is anticipated that a most representative deputation will be available, to lay before the Minister of Railways and responsible railway officers, the requirements of the Northern Hue, backing up their assertions that the present service is totally inadequate, with an emphatic dem.and that permanent and beneficial improvements be effected. When the request was made to Mr Massey by Messrs Parr and Coates, Ms.P., that special inquiry be made into the running of the Northern railways, with a view to speeding up and improve ing the present service, Mr Massey promised that jf representatives of the different centres got together and demonstrated the needs of their respective districts, he would authorise an officer of the Department to go to Auckland to meet them, and report on what could be done. The representatives have been appointed, and will interview Departmental officers at Auckland to-morrow in connection with the business. Persistent rumours have it that the express service is to be restored as from the beginning of November. Rumour is a very unreliable and transient being, and the energetic representatives of the district who have this agitation in hand are taking no notice of rumours at all, but intend doing their utmost towards getting the much desired results aimed for. Viewed from just one point, it seems to the ordinary person terribly bad business on the part of the Railway Department, that they have running from Auckland to Helensville, and vice versa, three trains daily that stop at every solitary station on the line. The speeding up of any gr all of these trains would be a relief. 4- big cause for complaint by persons living beyond the suburban area is that the Helensville trains seem to be run for the reasonably well catered for suburbanite, to the detriment of the long-distance passenger,

The news that improvements to the North Auckland service will be considered by the general Manager of Railways .will be re* tJeived with satisfaction by residents of the North, and the result of the deputation to Auckland to-morrow will be awaited with interest.