The Daily News SATURDAY, JULY 11. DEFECTIVE TRAIN ARRANGEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 172, 11 July 1908, Page 2

The Daily News SATURDAY, JULY 11. DEFECTIVE TRAIN ARRANGEMENTS.

Prior to the recent Rami Contest at Now I'lyiiioulli wc lnul occasion to strongly criticise lln- iniiitcqiiiitc and incoiivcuieut train arrangements originally made to co|m: with the anticipated truffle. After nincli agitation, a rearrangement of the original service was conceded which gave general satisfaction. Jt might have been thought, after that experience, that the Railway Department would have been able to arrange a timetable to meet the exigencies of the trallic on Wednesday next on the occasion of the BritishTa'rauaki football match at Xcw Plymouth. There is, however, a most serious defect, ill the compilation of the timetable that, we believe, has only lo lie brought under the notice of the Trallic .Manager to be remedied. Up lo a certain point the arrangements appear to be well conceived and adequate ia meet the trallic offering during the forenoon. Trains leave Ilawera at 7.2(1 a.m., 8.10 a.m.. and 0.40 a.m., and Stratford at 8.25 a.m., H. 5 a.m., 0.2.> a.m., and 10.50 a.m. respectively. The only other train for Xcw Plymouth is timed to leave Hawera at 1.40 p.m., Stratford 3.5 p.m., reaching Xcw Plymouth at 4.33 p.ni,. just when the football match will be concluding. The Department has entirely overlooked the fact that the Stratford tradespeople are not closing their shops till 12 o'clock, noon. It will be apparent at once that a very large number of people who will be unable to leave their work until about midday are afforded no opportunity of witnessing the match. The same remark applies to a certain extent to the remaining provincial towns. The early morning trains will cater for the very extensive incii''sion of country people and others fortunate enough to be able to get away for the whole day, but decidedly will not meet ihe convenience of the town communities. What is needed is either ail extra train, or that Ihe 0.10 a.m. train be delayed to leave Ilawera about 11 o'clock, leaving Stratford about noon, and arriving at New Plymouth at about a i]uai'lcr to 2 o'clock. We are thoroughly convinced that such a train would be most heavily patronised, and to a large extent by people .who otherwise, under the present arrangements, are being debarred from witnessing the match at all. The matter is one that should at once engage the attention .if the football authorities and the various tradesmen's associations concerned. We have no doubt that the suggestion lias only to be represented to the Trallic Ma'nnger, in the p'.oper light as a business proposition, and as a public convenience, to be rectified.