THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 1913. OUR RAILWAY SERVICE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 100, 10 June 1913, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 1913.

OUR RAILWAY SERVICE.

"Me nothing extenuate, nor set down auaht in malice

W'h n Mr Massey was approached in Auckland recently, by a deputation from Pukekohe in conneciion with local railway affairs, he shrugged 1.13 shoulders with a gesture of comic despair. "The Railway Department is on strike," he said laughingly, "perhaps when the reorganisation takes place things will be better." Jf we may judge from what has happened we should say that IVir Maissy was light. A 1 ng time ago Mr Massej announced to the Editor of this paper that tha Sunday expresses were to make Pukekohe a regular stopping place. That announcement was published—and as a result a number cf district people were over-carried to Mercer, because tha train did not stop. Then came the departmental change, but the change was manifestly not the improvement tha*; Mr Massey had arranged for. The new time-table provided that the up-train on Sunday morning would stop "to set down passengers," and the Sunday evening down-train "to pick up passengers." Thii arrangement quite faikd to meet the requirements of a large and eloseiy-settled cistrict. and a fuxthtr request was made to Mr Massey. The Prime Minister again took ac'.hn, aid later on by letttr advised that after June Ist the Sunday evening train would s'.op regularly at Pukekohe. Jt is now June 10th, the new time-table has been issued—and Mr Maasey's arrangement has again been set aside. The deputation to which we have referred expressly urged that the train leaving Auckland about 11.27 should leave at noon and be speeded up so as to arrive at Pukekohe about 2 30, instead of dragging its weary journey along until 4 o'clock. This was agreed to in Wellington and the Prime Minister notified the local d.putatitn accordingly. But in th 3 new time-table Mr Massey is again defeated bv the Department, for the train is still to leave Auckland at 11.27 (although by changing trains at (Jtahuhu a difference may be made), ar.d lo leave Pukekohe at 4 o'clock. We cannot understand where the bungling occurs. Or is it sl.eer hostility? We have reason to believe that tha local railway sccli n is not only not putting obstacles in the way, but that it is anxious to do all it can to improve the district train fetvr.ccfl Apparently tha trouble arises in Wellington, but whether it is in the Ministerial oflice or amongtt tha higher departmental officials we cannot say. This district would ba infini ely obliged if Mr Ma3sey s ilfeued with iron his good-natured hand and let it ba understood that when he makes an arrargement that arrangement must be carried out.