BETTER TRAINS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 October 1920, Page 4

BETTER TRAINS.

THE NEW TIME-TABLE STRATFORD AND ELTHAM SUPPORT, The efforts which the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce have been putting, forth in the direction of securing an alteration in the railway time-table, particularly ini affeotihg considerable saving of travelling time on the mail trains, have been approved by the Hawera, Stratford, and Eltham Chambers. The subject was considered- by a representative meeting at Stratford la«t evening. , Mr. J. B. Richards, chairman of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce, who presided, explained the details «f. ihe proposed time-table, and stated* that since the completion of the Auckland Main Trunk railway, Taranaki had been side-tracked as regards its- mail- train. The new proposals would ensure & batter connection for passengers and mails with the South Island, would make thejourney more pleasant, and would flnf, {mult in any inconvenience. the east line was concerned, he did nqfc think the new time-table would interfere with it to any extent.

Mr. W. P. Kirkwood moved following resolution: "That this meeting, ' representative of the StratfonJ Jjgrough Council, Chamber of Retailers' Association, and Railway strongly favors the hew timetable for Taranaki an suggested j»y the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, provided the General Manager of Railways gives the assurance that the adoption of tho new time-table will assure oonnection with the Lyttelton ferry service, steamer connection with Auckland, via New Plymouth, with the Auckland Main Trunk express, and also that the time for the railway journey between New Plymouth and Wellington wllj be considerably curtailed." Mr. Kirkwood said that the new timetable ougl t to guit the whole of Tanfc naki, and although thpy might like to see a few minor alteration* he favored supporting the proposals as thetvatood. The development of ,the New Plymouth harbor made it more important jbit there should be a better train setyiee,. as he expected before long to aw a regular steamer service between New - Plymouth and Sydney. , Mr. C. E. o'ames (president of-the Retailers' Association), said his Associates was unanimously in favor of the proposals. Mr. W. McDonald said that it'might be advisable for the mail train tor New Plymouth at 8.30 a.m. instead ol' 9 o'clock, thus reaching Wellington bait* an-hour earlier in the evening, and thit passengers for the south from etatlojM between Hawera and Stratford should be brought up to Eltham and Stratfotd ■ by the earlier train from Hawera ■ itt order to connect with the down mail train. By doing this more time worn be allowed in Wellington. > After further discussion, the resolution was carried unanimously, . a&d Messrs. Richards and Kirkwood weta appointed delegates to attend the conference with Mr. McVllly, General Manager of Railways. A meeting of Eltham business men OA Wednesday discussed the proposals, yyV on the motion of Messrs. H. G. Carmen and J. Taylor, the following resolutbta was carried: "That the Chamber at®port the Taranaki Chamber in the? effort to get the time-table altered, witfc a view to speeding up the mail (mini* The agreement of Hawera to tilt posalu was reported yesterday morning; and the province has now given \inaalmous support to the delegates. Comments yesterday's Hawera Star, editorially: The proposed new ti«M* table, as suggested by the TaraiuH Chamber, seems to nave been well thought out, and may be regarded as a considerable improvement on the present arrangement, though it is difficult to say whether the proposals might not mean i inconveniences to country settlers and Hawera. Clearly somethu|g, needs to he done by the Railway Department to speed up the mail* trains between Taranaki and Wellington, which are ■ expresses in name only. We ar* glad to see that Nojth and South TanmlWare showing more signs of co-operating and unity of purpose, and that whatever parochial spirit there may havj> Been in the past is fast disappearing. If Taranaki is to hope for improvements in its railway service it must present a united front for the welfare of the province as a whole, and it i§ in this spirit that the Chambers of Commerce are approaching the matter, which u of so much importance to the whole diai trict. When the deputation of dele-> gates from the Chambers of Oomsjeree meets the General Manager of Hailways at New Plymouth, probably next week, it is to be hoped that it will he able to convince him of the jintitt of . the claims of the province fos better attention, and that an ezpfrew MTvifi* will be inaugurated which wl# fc* iftW* in accordance with the progress of < this important part of New Zealand. Bjit Hawera needs to carefully guard agAinst serious alterations that might he to the town's detriment. ■ '*