OUR TRAIN ARRANGEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 228, 19 September 1908, Page 5

OUR TRAIN ARRANGEMENTS.

IMPROVEMENT URGED. , JSROMPT ACTION TO BE TAKEN At the meeting of the Employers' Association lust night, 111. 1 secretary, •Mr. J. Whitaker, brought uuder t'.ic notice of members I lie need for improved milway service between New Plymouth and the rest of Taraaaki. Country people often mentioned this matter to him, and as the Chamber of Commerce bad decided to take action in the matter, he thought this Association should join ha-ads with that body ia endeavoring to secure better arrangements lor the travelling public. The morning train at present did not arrive here till a quarter to eleven o'clock. New* I 'ly mouth was big enough and important enough to warrant a train from, .say, Stratford, arriving at nine o'clock. He urged that the present time-table was interfering with the education of the ehildren, for they were unable to attend the high and technical schools 1 jiere unless resident in or near the town. Pupils from lnglewood and Waitara went to Stratford. The people down the line were anxious for a late outward train on Saturdays, so thftt they would have reasonable time in which to transact their business, and so that those unable to come to town ia the morning co»hl come in by the aft*raooii and still be able to return home that -night. The morning train should arrive here in time to suit the schools, and to allow of the expansion of the suburbs along the line. He submitted a motion emphasising the im-

portance of the resolution passed by the Chamber of Commerce, and requesting the Railway Department lu proTide the improvements necessary >iin' tki interests of the district. Mr. C. E. Bak«r seconded. Words failed him in describing the inadequate railway arrangements locally. Mr. Morton said that ,»n Monday last, in his capacity as a director of the Freezing Works Company, he had been one of a deputation to the staftionmaster at New Plymouth, asking •for a train to be put on to arrhe here lit about 8.30 a.m. It was pointed out .to the stationmaster that at present butter arrived at New I'lymontu by the 10.45 ajn., .12.20 p.m., aud 3.15 p.m. trains, and the latter consignments oftentimes reached tlu l-.tv.-uig works about five o'clock. This necessitated

keeping on tie employees for two or three hours to sort tthe parcels, and the graders were aJso kept late. The idea was that the butter could be loaded into the trucks at night or early in the morning, aha brought in here early. The stationmaster fad not exgpressed nay opinion oa the matter, but he had promised to see what could be done. It had been mentioned at the interview that if the train were arranged, there was sure to be aji immediate demand for passenger cars to be attached, and it would be only reasonable to expect a fair jmsaeugor iralfie. This question of securing au earlier iniward train had been betore the Education Board repeatedly, for parents desirous of sanding cliildren to the secondary sohools here had been debarred by the inconvenient tram service. There should be trains enabling to arrive in time for school and to get home at a' reasonable hour. Mr. llnr/ton contended, though, that tlicy would be more likely to get what they were aiming at if n deputation met the Traffic Manager than bv writing. Mr. Arnold said tlie Chamber of Commerce would take the earliest opportunity of bringing the matter under ■the notice of the Railway Department.

The presiclmi: Tin- rhaiiib."/ is ■wrong in' waiting. The District Traffic Manager had told them on several occasions that he was willing and anxijoius to come up and meet «iy deputation whieh had suggestions to make concerning local requirements. He had stated that he considered such to 1« his duty. It should be remembered, of) course, that whilst the railway officials doubtless' knew how to run their trains, the farmers and business people ■were equally conversant with their Deeds. Mr. Goodacre reminded the members of the fact that wJicn a deputation of busineFs people urged the Department to put on the mid-day tra'u to Wanganui they were told that there was no traffic to warrant it. But tiliey kept on agitating, and the train was put on. Now it was one of the most remunerative on the. section. But it ginould tw speeded up, and the Wanganui to New Plymouth train sped to allow of people in either centre visiting the other, doing their business, and returning the same day. The office of tile Registration of Deeds for the whole of Tarauaki was at New Plymouth, and it should be possible for a Patua niaa to come to New Plymouth, 4o his legal business, and return home the same day. Mr. Goodacre said he considered it a cryJng riliame that education should be forced into the background because of the waat ol railway facilities. The children should be enabled to take advantage of the higher

education given by the Government. Mr. Baker: By the people. Mr, Goodacre: Yes, by the feople. But they would get proper facilities only by agitation, and he recommended that a strong deputation should be formed to me«t the District Traflio Manager and point out the wants of] the settlers. Mr. Arnold said the Chamber of' u Commerce intended to find out when it would bo convenient for the Trallic Manager to receive a deputation. Mr, Baker's impression was that the Chamber intended to wait until thq District Traffic Manager was passing through. Mr. T. C. List advocated a strong deputation and a policy of "worry." No place of New Plymouth's size and importance should be ignored by the Department as had been done in the request for reduction of freight between the town and the breakwater, and improvement of train services, aad, wihat was more, no other town or district of the same size and importance .would have stood it. He thought New Plymouth should not lie down under any conditions that the railway authorities liked to impose. He referred to the success of the "worry'' policy 111 securing better railway facilities between (Wellington and Petone, facilities which at first were only secured by persistent agitation and seemingly against' the wishes of the powers that were. Traffic followed the institution of train services, and it was a poor argument of the Department to say there was insufficient traffic to justify tin* improvement iu railway matters thai North Q&r&n&ki liad cried out in vain for during recent years. .Mr.'List hoped there would be 110 further delay in approaching the authorities on the mallter and bringing to bear all the pressure the district was capable of exerting. •Mr. Morton remarked that if a deputation were formed ic siiouid not overlook the injustice suffered l>y farmers •by the excessive freights on the port line— g a for every ton of butter, and Is Od from the freezing works to tlm wharf, about half-n-mile journey. They had urged a reduction on several occasions, but unsuccessfully. Tliev intended still to agitate. For t)h c information of the meeting he pointed out that for Is (id a ton the Railway Department merely sent the engine to hau 1 the trucks to and from the wharf, the compaiiv doing all the loading and being compelled to take all tyTiie motion was carried, and it was decided that a strong and representative deputation should interview the District Traflic Manager as soon as possible, the deputation to consist of the president, Messrs, Morton, Baker, Arnold, Avery and List, with power to add to their number.