FOXTON S TRAIN SERVICE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1576, 13 July 1916, Page 2

FOXTON S TRAIN SERVICE.

At Monday night’s Council meeting Cr Freeman moved, and Cr Stevenson seconded: ‘‘That the District Tratlie Inspector or District Traffic Manager of the Wanganui section of the New Zealand Failways he ashed to attend the next meeting of the Council with a view to altering the present railway time table to Palmerston North, and that the Mayor, Cr Henderson and the mover convene a public meeting to discuss improvements to the existing' service.’’

Cr Freeman is of opinion that the seven o’clock train on Monday mornings should only run during the months of November, December, •January and February, and that during (he rest of the year the train should start at the ordinary time. S.-J5 o’clock. The train leaving Foxton al three o’clock in the afternoon should lie altered to connect with (he Auckland express at Palmerston North, which in addition to the convenience to the travelling public, would also give the residents of tin* district a faster mail service. The night train from Palmerston wmdd lie better leaving about three-quarters of an hour earlier and arriving in Foxton aland halfpast six. At present the time of arrival in Foxton is too late. He said that from enquiries made he was informed that an ollieial from Wanganui would be pleased to attend the next meeting of the Council to discuss alterations to the time table, and in order that the public should have an opportunity of expressing opinions as to the alterations required a public meeting should bo convened for 1 Ik* purpose. The motion wa> carried.

[As v.c have previously pointed out, ihe running of tin- 7 o’clock train on .Monday mornings, except for, say, three months in the sum-

mer, is unwarranted, and causes

unnecessary inconvenience to local people, and to the service. The early train was the result of an agi-

tation to meet the convenience of Buhners ton week-enders at the seaside. This may he justified during the few summer months, Imt not for the rest of the year. One has only to see who uses the early morning train for tile greater part of the year to see how nnnceessarv this

inconvenient and time-wasting service is. We are glad to know that a public meeting is to he convened to discuss tiie time-table, and we hope as a result that the desired alteration will be effected.] WHAT PALMERSTON ASKS. At the meeting of the Pa liners ton Chamber of Commerce on Monday, the Mayor brought up the matter of a proposed-alteration in the time table of the Eoxton-Ealmerston railway service. Air Nash said it was proposed I" delay the Alonday !) a.in. tram from Palmerston to l-’oxton till 12 o’clock, and if this were done it would be very inconvenient. especially to the auctioneers, who held sales in that district on Afondays. Air R. S. Abraham said the auctioneers were going to lake action in the matter, and it had been arranged for a deputation to wait on the stationmaster on Tuesday, and see it Ihe present service could not he retained. The Chamber decided to snppon the deputation, and Alessrs Ilodder, Ifauiiay, and Eliott were

appointed to join the auctioneers’ deputation when it wailed <m the slatioumasiov the following day.

The deputation suh.-eqneiilly waited on the Palmerston stationmaster ( Alr.lJay) mi Tuesday morning- Tiie Associated Stock Auctioneers wove represented hy Alessrs I>. F. Ahrnlmm nnd 1L AlcKnight. Tlie C’hamher of Commerce tnainInined that no nlterntion was neces-

snry. The early Alonday morning; train was used by eommereial travellers and business people, being; the only day in the week the train suited, also residents at Foxton Beach made considerable use of it.

The auctioneers pointed out that on account of this early train on Monday, that day was used for (he fortnightly stock sales at Himalanyi. and the alternate Alondays wen 1 used generally for clearing sales. Great ineonvenience would eonsepuently he caused by any alteration.

The stalionmaster promised consideration of the matter.