The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, AUGUST 5th., 1916. THE FOXTON TRAIN SERVICE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1594, 5 August 1916, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, AUGUST sth., 1916. THE FOXTON TRAIN SERVICE.

THE present railway service between Eoxton and Palmerston N. is not satisfactory, and the lime-lahlo needs revising in order to tiring' it up-to-date and to meet the require menls of the travelling public. The old lime-lahle, which has had little revision, was drawn tip when the <iovernment service was in ronipe lilion with the Manawnln Company, and the running' of the Eon ton train was so arranged as not to act a-- a feeder to the opposition. The op position ceased when the ILm'l'ii menl aetpiiri'd the Company s rights, Iml the Eoxton I’altnersion service practically remains the same. The necessity for bringing (lie service up-to-date in order to allow the Eoxton and district lra\ clling public an opportunity to connect with -the main lines north and south without having to wail so long in I’almerslon is what is de age) are left to mourn their loss, sired, also t in- elimina(ion for at least, eight, months in the year ol clock Monday morning train to Palmerston. Onr Palmerston evening contemporary says "the proposal to delay the 4 u - clock train (from Palmerston) to Eoxton on Monday mornings till 12 o’clock was opposed by I he local Chamber of Commerce and the stuck auctioneers who very rigidly point out that this is the only opportunity in the week of buyers attending the stock and clearing sales held at Himatangi and on the Eoxtou line. It would mean a, very serious hindrance to (he stock trade it. this train were interfered with.*’ it would be as well for our eoulempor-

ary to publish statist ir-s showing the number of those who use this train every Monday morning for stock-buying ]inrj)osos. It would be found that for every one who uses the train for sneh purpose that motor cars take at least six. In order I<> justify the cdaim for a retention of this I'mitiing (lie Department will require something more than a bald statement. Our contemporary rightly points out that “the Koxton Borough Council are, pressing for alterations to suit the convenience of Koxton, including earlier departures in the morning and a return (rain to arrive in Koxton from Palmerston at ti.lhl in the evening, while they urge the discontinuance of the 7 o’clock Monday morning train for Palmerston during part of the year.” Commenting' on ihe latter suggested alteration, our contemporary says: “The proposal would opera I e to Ihe disadvantage of (hose people who spend I lie week-end in Koxton." Now, how many Palmerston people spend their week-ends in Koxton;' True, a number of Palmerston people own houses at the seaside, but in almost, every ease they also own a motor ear, and travel back and forth independent of the Monday morning train. During (lie summer months there is an influx at the seaside, and in order to meet this extra demand the Koxton public are prepared to pul up with tlie inconvenience of the early Monday morning train during the summer months, Iml to continue this service throughout the year is not only imposing unnecessary hardship upon local people, iml is absolutely mi warranted. A visit to the local station on Monday mornings will quickly convince anyone of this fact. We quite agree with our contemporary in its concluding remarks: “The Koxton line is reputed to be the best paying piece of line in tlie Dominion, and it is to be hoped the Department will endeavour to formulate a service that will suit the convenience of Ihe majority of those who use il. It is nu|, of course, possible to please everybody in such matters, but in one or two directions improvements could be made that would remove some of Ihe dissatisfaction now in evidence.’’