RAIL-CAR SERVICE TO TARANAKI.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 326, 6 January 1937, Page 5

RAIL-CAR SERVICE TO TARANAKI.

FEARS OF BUSINESSMEN. Stratford Chamber Of Commerce Interested. The promised night rail-car service ■to and from Wellington keenly interested the Stratford Chamber of Corn'merce last year and one of the first actions of 'the chamber in 1937 will be to secure the fullest possible information on the present progress of the scheme and to urge the nbw overdue extension of the service to Taranaki. Several businessmen in Stratford are of opinion that the night rail-car to Wellington which will enable Stratford residents to spend a day, from breakfast time until about 11 p.m., in the Capital City, may not be wholly beneficial to business in Stratford. They consider that with such facilities available many more people will become regular visitors to Wellington and that many of these might get into 'the habit of doing certain types of buying there Instead of in their own town. Boon to Business. Mr F. T. Hale, president of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce, interviewed by a "Central Press” representative this morning, said than he did not think that these fears would be realised to any extent. His per-

sonal opinion waA that the service would principally appeal to the man who had business to transact in Wellington and who would not desire to spend his time in casual shopping. It was not likely that many people would face the long journey merely for the pleasure of spending a day in the Wellington shops. On the other hand, he said, the boon (hat would be,conferred on businessmen by making it possible for them to carry out their trips to Wellington in one day instead of in three would be. an incalculable one and such an improvement in connection with the Capital City could not fail to contribute greatly to the progress of Stratford. He proposed to obtain all the available information from the railway authorities, said Mr Hale, it was possible that delay in starting the Taranaki service had been caused through alterations in the design of the cars being found necessary after the experience gained in the initial service to the Wairarapa. He hoped, to have available for the meeting 7 of the I Chamber in February full data on [ this point and also all the information that could be given by the Wairarapa and Palmerston North Chambers oJ Commerce on the comfort and effici ency of the present service and whai effect, if any, it was having on the business affairs of those towns.