SIDE-TRACKING TARANAKI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 248, 25 November 1909, Page 4

SIDE-TRACKING TARANAKI.

PUBLIC PROTESTS IN NEW PLYMOUTH. THE NEW RAILWAY TIME-TABLE. The public at this end of the Welling-ton-Napier-New Plymouth section of the Government railways is not disposed lo take the injustice of the proposed timetable too meekly. Yesterday th-ro were strongly iworded protests passe 1 at three different meetings, and steps will be taken to force the protests home. COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OR. JECT. At the County Council meeting yesterday the following resolution was carried, upon the motion of Cm. Carter and Tate:— That the Taranaki County Council strongly protest against the proposal to delay the arrival of the express train from Wellington to New Plymouth any later than at present; mi the grounds that not only will it cause inconvenience to the 'travelling public arriving in New Plymouth one | hour and twenty minutes later, Vit will proportionately delay Ihe steamer service between' the breakwater ni Onehunga, as well as tending to isolate New Plymouth from the rest of the Dominion.

It was decided to approach the other county councils in Taranaki asking them to voice their objections. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. "STICK TO THE PRESENT TIMETABLE." A DEPUTATION APPOINTED. There was a good attendance of members yesterday afternoon at a hastily called meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, Mr. W. J. Penn presiding. The following resolution was passed by Mr. Penn, and seconded by Mr. J. C. Morey:— That this Chamber most emphatically protests against the proposal to delay the arrival of the express train from Wellington to New Plymouth any later than at present, on the ground that it will cause great, inconvenience to local and through traffic and to the steamer services between the breakwater and Onehunga. Some discussion took place concerning the attitude taken up by the Chamber at previous meetings in connection with the proposals, the Chamber at one time having agreed to support the through connection with Napier, the eifort to secure which this time-table had evidently been framed. The Chamber subsequently qualified its support. It was pointed out, however, that no good could be done now by airing an old grievance, for the Chamber must present an united front if any good was to be done.

Mr. King and several other speakers considered the proposed delay would be very inconvenient and prejudicial to the interests of New Plymouth and North Taranaki generally. Mr. King mentioned having received a telegram from Mr. Stanley Shaw, who was visiting Napier. He stated that the Napier people were no more pleased with the new arrangement than we were at New Plymouth, and they were making a great fuss about it.

The president said that the Chamber had already passed one resolution regarding time of arrival and then reversed Its decision. To pass another one diverging from the last previous one would make the Chamber look childisn, so they had better stand to their guns, stick to the present time-table, and protest against any arrival later than 8 o'clock. He had received the following telegram from Mr. 11. Okey, M.P.: "The General Manager overlooked the promise made to the Chamber. He says 'now the time-table is printed it Lnmst have a trial.' But he promises to consider reducing the time between Palnierston North -and New Plymouth. I am arranging a deputation of Taranaki members to wait upon the Minister, who at present, is laid up." The motion was carried, as was a further one directing that copies of the resolution be forwarded to the Premi-r, the Hon. Minister for Railways, the Taranaki members of Parliament, and to the General Manager of Railways. The president and Messrs Newton King and ('. IT. Burgess were appointed a deputation to wait upon the .Minister of Railways.

] CITIZENS' MEWING. ANOTHER DEPUTATION APPOINTED. The Town Hall was filled at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, when a public meeting convened by the Mayor, w.is held for the purpose of protesting against the proposed new time-tab 1 ?! The Mayor, Mr. G. Tisch, presided. '' _ "You all know the object of the meeir ing. and you all know the importance 1 of it," commenced the chairman in setting the matter Before the large gath"r- ---' ing of commercial and other rcprescntt- ' five men. He continued that immediately upon seeing the Railway Depa-t----1 ment's proposals outlined in the press, • he had decided to call this meeting, and had telegraphed to other Taranaki towns, inviting their co-operation. The ■ Mayor of Stratford had promptly assural him of hearty support. This de- • lay of the arrival of the mail train affected not only New Plymouth, but the whole of the province, knocking North Taranaki I lie hardest, of course. It , would put .\ T ew Plymouth back into the same position, as far as railway facilities were concerned, as had ruled n-bo:i!. • fifteen years ago. He moved— That this large meeting of citizens representing every trade 'and commercial interest in "New Plymouth, enters its most vigorous protest against the alteration of the railway table whereby the mail train will inrive in New Plymouth at 9.20 p.m. instead of 8 p.m. Mr. Newton King seconded. He remarked that when lie and Mr. Connett returned from their harbor loan mission they had been indignant, upon learning of the things that were being done to detract from' the success of the port and of their work. Any later arrival of the mail train would be an absolute detriment to the town itself, as well as injuriously affecting the trade of the port. The present express gave a very convenient local service, as well i.s enabling the steamers from New Plymouth to connect with the trains for Rotorua and the Waikato, with which latter district Taranaki had considerable business. With the train arriving at 9.20 p.m. .{here was no chance of ' doing that, and New Plymouth was going to 'be isolated altogether. He : thought that the public of Taxinaki : should enter a united and vigorous protest. Mr. Penn mentioned that the Chain- ' ber of Commerce had passed a resolu- : tion on lines similar to the Mayor's mo- ' tion. He referred to Mr. Okey's telo- ] gram (quoted above). The 'General ' Manager, it seemed, was prepared to ' hear what Taranaki people had to say ' now, having overlooked the fact that ' he had promised to submit a. draft to ( the Chamber of Commerce before the * time-table was finally decided upon. J There was a possibility that the Gen. ' eral Manage,- could bo persuaded lo ' speed up the service between Palmers- l ton and New Plymouth, so that rfhc ° train could arrive here earlier. 'r

Mr. King informed the meeting that apparently Xenv Plymouth would not Ibe single-handed iu the matter, for M\ | Shaw had telegraphed him that Napier I people were up in arms. too.

Mr. E. Grimilii said I lie elianjrc proposed would have a more Far-reaching effect than (hoy coujd at present oal;n----late, just as in the ens-? of the reduced steamer services, one had not fnil.v realised the inconvenience until one hail to travel to Auckland and bade. Jle ■had been informed that under tlie new time-table the steamship companies would have to put on another boat even to maintain three trips a week. The train arrival at New Plymouth wa.s quite, late enough now, anyhow. Wich regard to the General Manajjcr'n statement that the time-table as printed must have a trial, he said he had always surmised that the railways were

ownea by the people and that they were intended to be run for the convenience of the people. If the people on this toast and on the other coast said "thiß itime-table does not suit us," and protested vigorously, the Railway Department must listen.

Mr. Butler emphasised the fact, not touched upon by previous speakers, that under the new arrangements it would not be possible, as now, lor busiiuss men to receive their correspondence at night after the arrival of the mail train and to attend lo it the same night. He suggested monster petitions in all the Taranaid towns affected. The motion was carried.

Mr. I). Berry strongly advocated sending a deputation to Wellington, giving his experience that a personal intcrvi.r.v with si Minister mas more effective than any amount of letters and telegrams. Mr. Cock endorsed this view, and expressed, his belief that a good deal of time could be saved by the mail train on the run from Palnierston to New Plymouth. He was pleased to see that the Napier connection was about to bo accomplished, but he believed it could be done without delaying the Taranaki express as proposed. Messrs G. Tisch, J. B. Connett and I!. Cocke were appointed a deputation to wait on the Minister, co-operating with the Chamber of Commerce deputation. Wititara, lnglewood, Stratford, Eltha'n and Hanvera will be asked to appoint delegates to make up a strong deputation lo visit Wellington and Jay Tarannki's views before the Minister aud General Manager.

Mr. Baker suggested that Napi.'r might lie asked to co-operate. Mr. J. B. Connett remarked, however, that the Chamber of Commerce had once before agrceii to help Napier, and this trouble was partly the outcome of that. It would tic better for New Plymouth had they looked after their own interests.

The chairman said there was no doubt in his mind that the Chamber had something to answer for. At this stage Mr. King moved n hearty vote of thanks to the chair, and this being carried, the meetim. terminated. '" BOROUGH COUNCIL RESOLUTION. At the Borough Council meeting hist night, upon the motion of Crs. Gilbert and Dockrill. a similar resolution was carried, and his Worship the Mayor was deputed to represent the Council on the deputation to the Minister.