The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1919. Ungenerous Criticism.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 470, 7 October 1919, Page 2

The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1919. Ungenerous Criticism.

"We nothing extenuate, nor in down auahi in malice

COMMENTING on the resumed stoppage of the main trunk expresses at various places, the Auckland "Star" of last Saturday most ungenerously remarks thai Franklin is fortunate in that it is represented by the Prime Minister, This statement ia tantamount to saying that the resumption of the stoppage of the expresses on Sundays was secured by political favouritism. To give fair play, we may point oit that the leader writer of the "Star" is probably not aware of the fact that the service referred to is not a new one by any means, but simply the resumption of an old service, cut Hit during; the war. Had the "Star's" leader writer known the full circumstances of the case, probably no such unjust aspersion would have been cast on the Member for Franklin and the public men of Pukekohe —even though the " Star " is opposed to Mr M axsey politically.

While on this subject it may also he pertinent to refute the point made by the "Star" in the same article, that long nonstop runs should be the guiding policy. We venture to assert thas an express starting from Auckland, carrying, say, 400 persons, loses about three-quar-ter* of that number at the different stations en route, picking up others at the same time, probably only about 8© out of the original 400 arrive in Wellington. It is a mistake to expect long non-stop runs in New Zealand such as obtain in the United Kingdom (which the "Star" quotes) because we have not the population to make them practicable ventures. The Railway Department obviously takes this view, as it ha* not provided the inter-rails water troughs common in the incite populous countries, whereby an express can chute up its boiler water while travelling By the time Now Zealand is ready for the mile-a-minute nonstop runs from city to city we trust that a suburban, or equivalent service will he catering for the needs of Franklin.