RAILWAY SERVICE.

Otaki Mail, 26 February 1919, Page 3

RAILWAY SERVICE.

AGITATION BY MR W. H. FIELD, M.P.

Tor some time" past Mr Field, M.P has agitated for. improved .train so: vices on tlie Manawatu line, and i answer to Ins latest enquiry lias r( ceived the following from the Miuiste for Railways:— Sir,—ln reply to your letter of 27tl ultimo, covering a eommunicatioi signed by 264 residents of Faekaka riki, requesting that the week-end fare in force in Wellington prior to the wa: bo now reinstated, I have the konou. to point out that practically no lit moi have yet returned from the war to theii occupations with the Department, ant very few were discharged from the camps. In regard to the reinstatement of Sunday trains, the Department is finding it increasingly difficult, with the limited staff at its disposal, to carry on the business offering on week-days, and it could not reasonably call upon the stall' to work on Sundays, having in mind the arduous nature of their work on the other six days and the necessity for having a rest day. With respect to the question of week-end tickets, I would point out that the inauguration of any concession fares which would have the effect of concentrating traffic which the Department is at present receiving distributed over the whole week would increase the difficulties which the Department is already experiencing in dealing with the business that is offering, and an increase in the weekend ' business—which is already the time at which traffic is heaviest —before the return of the railwaymen from active service, would add to the partment's embarrassment and might prejudicially affect the handling of shipping and other f important perishable goods traffic. Further, the granting of week-end tickets would inevitably bring about the reinstatement of the other concession fares -which are at present inoperative. I regret, therefore, that-the request cannot be complied with at the present time, but the question of a general extension of the week-end travelling facilities will bo considered as soon as a sufficient number of men on active service return to their civil occupation.—l have, etc., W. H. HERRIES, Minister of Railways.