THE LIMITED'S SPEED.

Shannon News, 4 June 1926, Page 4

THE LIMITED'S SPEED.

VISITORS' CRITICISMS

Statements concerning the high upeed attained by the Limited express running between Wellington and Auckland have been made from time to time. In most cas'es these statements have been made by visitors from overseas, and they arc supported by facts given to a Dunedin reporter by Mr. A. H. Sytncr, of London, before he left Dunedin. Mr. Sytner, who is head of a leading firm' of buyers and shippers in London, has travelled extensively. "There is going to- be a terrible smash on the Main Trunk line some day/' he said. "The speed of the Limited express is far 100 great for safety. A smash will come, and it will probably be as disastrous as the smash that occurred on the South African lines some years ago. The South African Government was taught a lesson as the result of that catastrophe, and the speed of trains was thereafter considerably reduced. If the New Z'ealand Government is wise it will reduce the speed of the Limited in certain places before a smash occurs." Mr. Sytner also had some remarks to make in regard to what he termed the "wretched sleeping berths" on the Main Trunk expresses. "There arttwelve berths," he said, "in each sleeping car, and these arc far from being comfortable and not worth the' 12s 6'd charged by the Government." His chief complaint was in regard to top berths. These, he stated, are very heavily constructed, and are only held in position by a Very light chain. There was always a danger of a link of a chain breaking, and if ,that occurred the weight of a solid bunk and of the occupant would descend on the person underneath. Critics Do Not Agree.

Mr. S. Barker, an English tourist, said the other day: • "The New Zealand railways arc miserable. It is impossible to enjoy the lovely country through which they pass owing to the discomfort of the carriages." Place against that denunciation th-. 1 remarks of Mr. S. Newbury, a wealthy American, as he was getting on a train at Duncdin the other morning. Being asked if he, was comfortable, he answered: "I'm always comfortable on your New Zealand railways. It is orfe'of the finest countries in the world in which you can reserve a compartment and be sure of ease and privacy. I like comfort, and don't mind paying for it, and here I can get something worth paying for. I know about lunch at Oamaru, too. That's alright."