THE STRATFORD-AUCKLAND LINE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 39, 17 February 1915, Page 2

THE STRATFORD-AUCKLAND LINE

[To The Editor Stratford Post.] Sir, —I notice in your yesterday’s issue reference to the slow progress of the Stratford-Auckland Hail way, and cannot understand the local Chamber of Commerce not going into the question of urging better progress with this important railway works. The fact is we are getting side-track-ed and ignored by the present Government The rail-head beyond Whangam onion a ‘"the 'same'’place' Vs it was over two years ago. The number of men on these works has been> grhdually reduced, and is still being reduced, at a rate that in another twelve months’ time there will be only about twenty men and a wheel-barrow. Still the Stratford business people are taking it all lying down. I believe the “Public Works Department •is undecided regarding deviation at Tahora ? and this gives the Government the excuse they want to reduce expenditure. In the meantime, the railway is going on fast at the Auckland end, and will reach Ohurn ten years before the line from this end reaches that point, unless the Government is stirred up. Ad the expenditure of public money and energy is going on south of this town. Wanganui is getting a deep-sea Harbour, and there is a possible chance « of this railway being connected with Eltliam, through the energetic Member for that district’s efforts. Stratford and New Plymouth will become presently. a dead end if matters are allowed to drift. Again, the way the public of Stratford are catered for by way of public conveniences (which they pay for) is simply scandalous. Take its Post Office: you can go almost any hour of the day the office is open, and you will have to wait a considerable time to send a telegram, buy a stamp, get a registered letter, or do any Savings’ Bank business. There is a small space about eighteen inches wide with one man behind it to do the work of two. Then take the Whangamomona train service; the train timed to arrive here yesterday at 3.30 arrived about 4.30, and the writer noticed a double-funnelled engine pulling this train that was running on the Dunedin-Port Chalmers line 35 years ago! The load behind this lovely engine was such that a good bullock-team could have pulled the same on rails Notwithstanding the fact that the line is blocked from end-to-end with goods, the passenger cars—-especially the Ist and 2nd smokers—are as rickety as a saw-mill trolly, and the passenger accommodation is inadequate. It is quite a common thing to see women and children crowded to such an extent that the mothers are holding two children on their knees, and probably paving fare for the two. The result is that when these women arrive in Stratford they are tired and worn out. and not able to do anv business, nr to eninv themselves. Through all these drawbacks Stratford is losing considerable trade, besides the endangering of health and the inconvenience to the travelling public. I am. etc. JOSEPH McCLTGGAGE. 17-2.15.