"WEARY WILLIE."

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 542, 22 June 1920, Page 2

"WEARY WILLIE."

UNSUITABLE TRAIN ARRANGE MENTS.

COUNCIL'S ACTION.

The erratic train arrangements between Pukekohe and Mercer was commented on at Wednesday night's meeting of the Borough Council, especially the train which is due to depart from Pukekohe about $ p.m., conveying the school children to their respective home stations. "Weary Willie" is an appropriate cognomen that may be bestowed on the snail-like conveyance. In the first instance, a suburban train quits Auckland city platform at about 1.18 p.m., and after a run of about one r.nd a-quarter hours arrives at Papakura. "Weary Willie" looms up some time afterwards, but seldom before, with a carriage attached. 'Weary Willie's" passengers remain at the suburban terminus station for sometimes over an hour, and eventually "Weary Willie" makes a move with its passengers. As slow as the proverbial "wet" week. "Weary Willie" wends his way in a weary fashion until he reaches Pukekohe. Here a stop is made for shunting operations, and more often than not does not depart from Pukekohe until well after schedule time.

Cr. Patterson, who brought the matter up, said sometimes the train due to leave at 1 p.m. never left until six o'clock, and the school children had to proceed home by the Waikato train. This meant that numbers uf the children who had some miles to travel after alighting from the train never reached home until il was terribly late. The town benefited by the children coming to Pukekohe, and he considered it was up to the council to take steps to have the train fa-ilities speeded up. The children left their homes early in the morning, and 'Alien they arrived home late at night, it meant a very solid day for them. He moved that representations be made to the district traffic manager with a view to having the matter remedied, and failinu satisfaction, the council bring the matter under the notice of the Minister for Railways. Another step in the right direction was .-boson when the Mayor urged that represent aliens be made to the traliic manager to have a car attached to the goods train leaving Pukekohe at about ( J o'clock, in order th?.t local people could link up with the Papakura suburban service. His Worship pointed out. and it is a widelyknown fact, that after the 7.20 a.m. train departed from Pukekohe, would-be travellers had to remain here until 12.48 p.m. before they could proceed to Auckland. He thought that a train leaving Pukekohe about 9 a.m. or 9.30 a.m. to connect with the Papakura service, would be favourably welcomed by all. He moved that an application be made to the traliic manager Ti'ging the council's wishes be complied with. Carried. "The whole service is rotten, remarked Cr. Pilkey. It was decided to ask the Chamher of Commerce i» co-operate with the council in their representations. The Mayor, Crs. Armstrong and Hamilton 'were delegated to interview the traliic manager with regard to train facilities, and the crane, i