EXHIBITION RAILWAY FARES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2821, 10 April 1882, Page 3

EXHIBITION RAILWAY FARES.

The people of South Canterbury have good reason to be dissatisfied with the railway fares fixed by the Railway Department. How is it that the Government—perhaps we should say the -late Government—always manage to play into the hands of Dunedin ? For instance, the Dunedinites can visit the Christchurch Exhibition by paying 30s for a first-class ticket, which is available for return for nine days. The distance between Dunedin and Christchurch is 230 miles, and between Timaru and Christchurch it is 100 miles. Yet a passenger booking at Timaru has to pay 25s for a ticket to Christchurch, which is only available for four days. We have personally drawn the attention of the authorities to this alarming difference in railway fares and the Government have promised to give the matter proper consideration. We observe that the people of Oamaru have been petitioning in the same direction, and the government have agreed to reduce the fares later on. Out; advice to the public is to postpone their intended visit to the' Exhibition till the fares are reduced and thus show the Railway Department that, they do not intend to be deliberately fleeced to gratify the Dunedin friends of the Government. From private information received to-day We are certain that railway fares will be very materially reduced and that cheap excursion trains will be put on in the course of a week or a fortnight at the most.