SWIFTER TRAINS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 91, 13 May 1909, Page 3

SWIFTER TRAINS

FOR THE WUOUO ISLAND. THE CONFERENCE AT I'ALMEKSTOS At the conference of Chambers of Commerce at l'alinorston North on Tuesday, the chairman (Mr. Johnston) said that the l'almerstou Chamber was of opinion the conference could arrive -it some definite conclusions to place before I. the new Minister for Kaihvavs and thus | greater facilities would be given for the] passenger and goods trallie between the districts' represented. They considered that, now that tile Manawatu line had been taken over, and the Main Trunk line opened, the community interested must refuse to accept the usual Departmental reply: '"'The existing business is not suflicienr to justify the expenditure involved in running such trains, etc." They desired more frequent and faster services between the railway section- on the East and West Coasts and with the Main Trunk line, and a fater intermediate service. It appeared very strange that a through connection in one dav to New 'Plymouth from any puint north of Daimevirke and south of Masterton, or from any point north of Wanganui to any point beyond Dannevirke and Masterton should be so long I refused.

SOUTH ISAXI) BETTIiR TREATED. C\>nu>aiud to tJio railway service over the sections 'militated the southern services were better treated, being faster in everv instance. He quoted figures showing that the net revenue on the Iliiruiiui-Bluir section of £287.105 f or IftOS was' equal to C2 7s Hid per cent, j on the cost of construction (£11,997,502). or ;\ vet-uvii of £223 per mile, :is compared with the New Plymoutli-Xa-pici-Wcllrngton Action, in which (lie net, revenue of X 255.555 equalled £4 lis Hi per cent, on the cost of construction (£5.580,«5(i|, or a return of £022 p"r | mile.' Mr. Johnston added that there

wag no desire for local hcnelits in call-

iag the conference. ]f il gave crieatcr advantages tu inn trains, now stopping there overnight, to Woodvillc. AYun<j'lnui iiml Dauncvirkc. by all means let tli-cm endeavor to obtafn the increased service's. Their desire was the greatest A ■•owl t'»r llie greatest inunlier. " -'TUK WAITS AT WOODYILLU." |. Mr. Williams (Napier) commented very adversely upon the waits at Wood- ] villi-, which were most annoying, and j thvi-c was no reason why they should not be entirely obviated. If they baS to wait they preferred to wait in Pilmerstou, but, by a common-sense rearrangement of Uie time-table, all delays could be avoided in the through journeys. Practically all they asked 'or was the acceleration of an already existing service, and its extension to Palmerstou, which, 'from its yios'ition, was the dividing place north and south. It was no good having half the division at ■ one place (Woodvillc) and half at motlier (Paluierston). lie thought ,the 5.1.1 train from Wellington should be delayed a bit, and the early train from Napier put forward a bit, thus allowing connection with the New Plymouth service there at 11.45. The resolutions arrived at were published in our issue yesterday.