Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1905. The MANAWATU RAILWAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3524, 20 May 1905, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1905. The MANAWATU RAILWAY.

Mu W. H. Fihi.u, speaking at Otaki on Monday, made some t efcrcnce to iJ>o present attitude of Olt? (iuvdl'iiineiit toward ills ivldniWHlt Kiiilv.-ay Cdmpany; As was welliiiidwri; negotiations lor the purchase b.v i:!ie Government of the conipilriy’s iiile had ended some tune since ; lint (he feeling that its security of tenure was in doubt had deterred the comjjfbiy iVom carrying out niaiiy ihlprove-

iiiouts f hat wmv. »U:c«- : s«ju , y its service. In order to help the directors ael make it possible for them to expend money on improvements Mr Fikld said he intended to urge the O-wonimOiit to give :nl iJnddndicing not to take over tlie line for at least three yean;, Wti do not feel quite so certain on the ndirit df the direetdrs* ~1 i i t easpn mr Hot carrying out improve- ■ meats; but the need for such is ; apparent to all who travel the line. It ■ the Government intends to deal seriously with the question ot acquiring File line it should lost! no tuhe in doing so, and thus bring the whole of the colony’s system under one control. Its acquisition, it is urged m irinny quarters, will «o;Vm dry lid IrtiJvitable ;■ am! if ihat is so the sooner the deed is d >ne the better for the travelling public ami for the people of the colony as a whole. If, on the other hand, this doubt as to tenure is a real detriment to the improvement of the Service, and the Government cannot face the question of acquisition, then the company should be definitely informed that its operiFiOus will be unhampered and it can proceed to make .-inch reforms as will tend to better the facilities for travel now- afforded; Whilst the rolling stock ilitd the Speed i oi !he company's trains is superior to that of the G wornment there are ma:iv details in which (ho service is sadlv deficient, ami these want immediate-' attention. Most important, wu should say, are the questions of s!ation accommodation and increased s! i.Tr, at the larger country stations.