STOP THAT EXPRESS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 139, 24 October 1913, Page 1

STOP THAT EXPRESS.

Pukekohe Left Out. The Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce has made Etrenuous but unsuccessful efforts to have one of tha Wellington expresses make Pukekohe a stopping place during the summer months. A letter to Mr "'assey drew lha usual reply that he V -Id confer with tbe Minister for railwavs and another to the Hon. Mr Herries stated that the representations of the Chamber would have consideration. The consideration it get was that the request was flatly "turned down." The Borough Council cc-operated by writing and pointing out great a convenience it would be if one of the trains were stopped here. The concluding Utter from tha Minister for Railways, elated October 11th, was as follows:

"With reference to your letter of 16: h ultimo, in support of the request for one of the WellirgtonAucklarid express trains to stop at Pukekohe, I have the honour to inform you that this question has been before me on numerous occasions, and after giving the matter careful attention I am of opinion that

it is inadvisable in trie interests ot the service and the travelling public as a whole to make tha desired stop. A careful check ha 3 been kept on the passenger traffic from Pukekohe, and it is ascertained that an average of only 2J passengers par week travelled to stations south of Taihape. It is evident, therefore, that the Department cannot expect any large exodus cr influx trom and to Pukekohe during the coming summer of passengers to and from the southern districts. Both the north and south expresses at present stop at Pukekohe on Sundays, and this should be sufficient to supply the reasonabla requirements of traffic offering. If the request wera complied with an insistent demand would be made by the residents at other stations alorg the line, of greater importance than Pukekohe, and it would be a difficult matter to resist the demand. The line between Frank ton Junction and Auckland, on the other hand, is well served by a fairly frequent mixed service, and intending passengers by the long distance expresses should have no difficulty in connecting at one of the stations at which these trains are already timed to stop. For years past there has been an increasing demand from long distance passengers for an accelerated speed of tna various passenger and express trains, ard these requests can oniy b3 complied with by reducing the number of stops at unimportant stations along the line as thesa trains are already running at the maximum speed.

BOROUGH COUNCIL DISCUSSION. At Wednesday night's meeting of the Pukekohe Borough Council a similar letter to the above from the Minister for Railways was read. Cr Hurley said that cine out of ten people getting on at Auckland lrom Pukekoha spent the day there, acd how could the Department tell whether they were from Pukekohe or not? Cr Patterson was very indignant at the Minister regarding Pukekohe as an "insignificant place " "I think he's simply rati led. I'd drag him over the coals, and he'll get it if he comes to Pukekche." He thought the Department should cut cut Mercer as a stopping place for one of the expresses and substitute Pukekohe.

The Mayor, Crs Patterson and Hamilton were appointed a committee to reply to the Minister, expressing the Council's opinion that one ol the Wellington expresses should make Pukekohe a stopping place.