THE FOXTON TRAIN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1100, 22 May 1913, Page 3

THE FOXTON TRAIN.

A disgraceful scene was witnessed on the Palmerston-Foxton train on Tuesday night, between Palmerston and Rangitane, when a quarrel is alleged to have taken place between a Maori and European, which culminated in a sanguinary battle. The language and conduct of the combatants is alleged by passengers to have been disgraceful, and to have upset several lady passengers. The conduct of certain individuals who ’ travel on this line under the influence of liquor is quite common, and something should be done by the authorities to make an example of them. ■ ,

It is quite time that some publicity was given to a disgraceful feature connected vyith certain trains bn the Foxton-Palmerston

route, says last night’s Palmerston

Standard. A report in another column will give readers with no personal acquaintance with the matter some idea of what happens on some of these trains —notably

those on Saturday nights, but by no means confined to those occasions. Numbers of men make a practice of travelling on this line when the worse for liquor. Their language, as a rule, is of a decidedly objectionable character, and they indulge their pugilistic inclinations without respect to their fellow passengers’ rights. Their general conduct is' such as to make the prospect of a railway journey from Palmerston to Fox- - ton at night a decidedly unpleasant one, especially for ladies < and childreh. The incident reported is a bad instance —but is none the less typical —of the disgusting scenes that are to be witnessed sometimes on this particular line. It is shameful that such a state of things should exist, aud impossible that it should continue any longer. These trains are much Used by Palmerstonians visiting Foxton for the week-end and by countryfolk returning from town, and it is disgraceful that they should have to endure the annoyance that

passengers were subjected to last night. As it is pointed out the .guard is quite unable to deal with the matter, having quite enough

work to attend to wayside stations. The Railway Department should without delay arrange for adequate police supervision and the strict enforcement of the regulations. We trust the publicity given to last night’s incident will have the effect of removing any further grounds for complaint. The present conditions constitute a reproach to the community and a blot upon the railway administration.