THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1919. OUR RAILWAY SERVICE.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 19 March 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1919. OUR RAILWAY SERVICE.

A week or two ago \vc published a letter from the Hon. the Minister for KaUvays, in' reply to representations : made by our member (Mr W. If. Field), in which the Minister gave but very little how of an improvement in our raihvav 'facilities for mo time to ■■ , .■ c The Mini: ter states that he can- : no: possibly consider the proposed rein- | statement "of week-end reduced fares, j Sunday trains, or any suggested iriv jprovement in the time-table; in fact, ibis attitude appear, to be one of .unI compromising opposition to any at- ! tempt at improving the present service in any way, for the time being at anv rate. The only grain of comfort I to "be" gathered from the Hon. Mr Hor-!,-ics' letter lav hi the last paragraph,

hi which he .rated that the general 'extension of week-end travelling would

be considered as soon as sulheifiiil men had returned from active service, find ■had resumed their civil occupation. ! While fully recognising (lie difficulties 'under which the Railway Department iis being worked at present, owing lo I the depiction of staff through the war. " it- seems to us thai somo much-needed , improvements might well be effected ■to the district railway service, without •putting any undue strain on the Department. However, wc will have to submit to the powers that be for the ' Vime being: As we have time and again pointed out, this district is not receiving fair treatment as regards our railway sewiee. and it is becoming increasing evident that so long as we quietly 'submit to the existing conditions we will get but scant consideration from the Department. Mr Field, member for the district, who has always been most consistent in his attempts to improve the railway service, is of the j opinion that a Manawatu Railway 'League, or some such body, should be formed, for the purpose of demanding its rights. We are heartily in accord with this suggestion, and would urge the public to take up the matter seri- : ously. There arc a great many ways > in which improvements, might be erj tectcd 10 the service for the district, and a strong body, representative of J the whole district, could bring pressure to bear on the Minister and -the Department, and agitate until we get at j leaatv.baTC justice, which, wo contend. I we have-not received in the past. We i necd:-onlv to mention one instance of the Unfairness of the Department to this:district—that of the non-stepping of any morning mail train at Te Hero j _trj;.-_s'how the urgent need of some cou[certed action by the district residents. [ Te Horo is practically" tlte only settle- ' ment along, the line at which neither j the New Plymouth nor Napier mail j train stops, and though persistent efj forts have been made by lite Te Horo 'people, and by Sir Field, the Depart--'•■merit refuses to grant this most reaseai able request. This is a great injustice | to the Te Horo people, who feel very j strongly en the matter, and this is only

p l-one instance of many disadvantages | | Such matters as the stopping place, of I i mail trains. or.inaugaration of improv1' e'd time-tables, week-end concessions. 1 suburban fares, revision of freight 1 { charge, and other important matters I ' could v.ith advantage be discussed by I : a League, which could bring strong ffj ■ pressure to bear on the Department, fl| and sieii a body -,roa!d, we are sure. || wove "ir, valuable to the district. A ft* Eailwa-r League should be formed at II price-, aid should be a pennant body; II ever alert to the interests of the reaiII- aS'district l«w»a Paehakariii and

TLeviu-a district thai, for some reason j I or other, iiai beta J-srlly * rested as re- . I gy rds railway laeiiitie. \n the ««. We i j would nrgZ'-siai Jiaasvdiere ? t»ps bo | taker, to a.rt on 3fr Field '*- suggestion J iu this for a r*adjast meni ■ of tee raiJwi.y matters of the whole ; Dominion will pwssita?" &e earriei -