The People's Railways.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 4 July 1918, Page 3

The People's Railways.

M.P.'S OUTSPOKEN LETTER. HOW THE OWNERS ARE FLOUTED AND IGNORED. Mr W. H. Fhdd, M.P., has addressed a letter to the Minister for Railways on the subject of Departmental, policy that will be read with interest as he brings very pointedly before the Minister some matters that have been freely commented upon in this part of the Dominion. Writing 'to Mr Herries, the 'member for the district says: "I do not know that it is any 4 use writing to you further concerning the persistence of the Railway Department in refusing to make the usual "mail train stops

at Otaki and at the stations immediately north and south of Otaki on race days, which causes great expense and inconvenience not only to racegoers, but also to tlie general public, and has the eii'ect of crowding the roads with motor cars to the great damage of tlie roads, the cost of repair of which comes, of course, from the ratepayers' pockets. The Department is losing large profits too at a time when revenue is urgently needed, and the consumption of benzine, wlien every gallon should so far as is possible be conserved for essential purposes is enoi'mously increased. Wherever I go I receive complaints that there is not a sufficiency of benzine for necessary purposes. On this subject I enclose an extract from the "Levin Chronicle" of the 12th inst. for your perusal. "Your explanation of the Department's action is that it has become necessary owing to depletion of the Railway service for war purposes. As against this I have been informed on several occasions by Rail way men J hat whereas before the war many of the,m were working over 70 hours per week they are now only working* 48 hours, and would only be- too glad to earn, at, overtime rates of pay, a little extra money to help them and their families while the cost of living is mounting higher every day. "Indignation over the matter is just as strong as ever it was, and the feeling abroad is that I, as member for the district, should be able to insist on the removal of the injustice. The people think that because they own the Railways their representatives should have some voice in th e redress of Railway grievances. This view is, in my experience, entirely fallacious. My constituents do not know the Department as well as I do, though many instances of the utter unreasonableness of those who control tlie Department have been brought painfully home to them, e.g., the continued refusal to restore the mail train stop at Te Horo in the mornings, and the stoppage of profitable Sunday trains, winch, apart from the general loss and inconvenience entailed, rob thousands of infant, children in the City of the fresh milk which is vital to their health. "I "have, as you know, in the House and out of it, protested in the strongest terms against these injustices inflicted by the Department, and have more than ! once interviewed the Prime Miuinster and yourself personally, but without result. "I deem it my duty to again write in the forlorn hope 'thai your Department may even at this late hour refrain from th'' t continuance of the wrongs comi plained of."