DAILY SERVICE

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1940, Page 8

DAILY SERVICE

RAIL-CAR TO TARANAKI THREE MONTHS TRIAL PROMISE BY MINISTER

From somewhere about the .beginning of December of this year, the present tri-weekly rail-car service between Wellington and Taranaki will, for a trial period of about three months, he made a full week service. The Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, gave information to this effect to a delegation from five Taranaki 91iambers of commerce when they met him at Stratford yesterday requesting that the existing service be made a daily one. The Minister, with whom was associated Mr. E. Casey, general manager of the Railway Department, made it clear that the continuation of the daily service depended upon tlie patronage received. Improved Facilities. Mr. Sullivan was glad that the people of Taranaki appreciated the existing railcar service. There \y«s no doubt that it represented a great improvement in the railway facilities of Taranaki. The province was fortunate in that it was favoured by being one of the first to be provided with rail-car service, for representations were qoming in from all parts of the Dominion. "I have studied the figures of the total patronage accorded the rail-car service in Taranaki, and I am sorry to say that I am . not entirely satisfied," continued the Minister. He had not, however, dismissed from his mind that a daily service, as pointed out by the delegation, would most probably result in a greater patronage. » He pointed out that Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., had said that there was a spare car at Wairoa. That was not entirely the position; the car was necessary on that run, for it served an otherwise almost isolated district "and supplemented the service provided by its sister car. There were serious problems to' be overcome, particularly a shortage of" the cars.

Taranaki Put on its Mettle. "Nevertheless," continued Mr. _ Sullivan, "I have decided to make a trial and put Taranaki on its mettle — the result will definitely determine the question. The trial would constitute a daily service for two or three montlis during the summer, probably commencing at thc beginning of December, going on through January and perhaps February. "If the people of Taranaki rise to the occasion and prove that their argument has substance, then I. think we will carry on. Perhaps we will have to extend the trial period into the declining period of the year. If Taranaki does not rise to the occasion it will be no good coming to me afterwards and asking for the daily service. My job covers the nation as a whole." "We are going to ,do our part and we are looking fprward to you doing yours," said Mr. Casey. ' Upon Mr. E. K. Cameron suggesting that so far as business , travelling to Wellington was concerned, the months of December, January and February were the lightest. Mr. Casey stated that they were the busiest passenger traffic months so far as. his department was concerned; therefore they would give the service its fairest trial. Under the existing difificult conditions rail-cars had to be.used to . the best advantage. Date of Opening Not Fixed. Mr. J. B. Richards, Stratford, asked if a definite date of commencement could be given as to assist the trial the Stratford chamber, and he thought the other chambers, would be willing to assist it with some form of advertising. "You had better give us a few days to consider the exact date," replied Mr. Sullivan, "but we : will tell you definitely next week." The delegation, which was introduced by Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., comprised the following representatives: Messrs. Gordon Fraser and S. F. Burgess (Taranaki); J. Burnip (Inglewood); F. T.-Hale, J. B. Richards, H. A. J. Heslop, F. E. Clarke and W. L. Kennedy (Stratford); E. K. Cameron and G. J. Bayley (Hawera); S. D. Hayton and R. B. Foord (Eltham). "You sold the rail-car idea to New Zealand and to this district particularly, and havirig sold it you have to look after .it," said "Mr. Polson. The department- would gain -more . business with a daily service. Mr. Richards prefaced his remarks by saying how deeply the chambers of commerce and the people of Taranaki appreciated the new steel cars which were now in use on the New PlymoUthWellington express train. They appreciated the rail-car so much' that they wanted more of it. It was very otten found in Taranaki that seats could not be booked in the existing tri-weekly car. Continuity was a. great element in business, and likewise a constant TaranakiWellington service would by far increase the popularity of the existing railcar. Petrol restrictions heightened . the need for a daily service. He suggested that long-distance booking should have preference ov.er intermediate hookings. Petrol Consideration. Wellington had assumed a far greater and ever-growing importance to the Taranaki commercial world, said Mr. Fraser, who asked the Minister to regard the position more from his position of Minister of IndUstry and Commerce rather than purely '• as Minister of Railway. For a business man to use the steam service meant his spending nine and three-quarter hours in the. train, and an absence of three days from his business. As a consequence, most of the Taranaki- Wellington traffic had been divcrted to motor-cars. But to now use a car meant the consumption of 25 gallons of petrol an impracticable proposition under the petrol restrictions, which were a very necessary measure in the prevailing times. As against this, Mr. Fraser pointed out that the rail-car would carry 50 people over the route for an expense of about 75 gallons of Diesel oil, meaning that the return per gallOn of fuel was far greater than by car. On top of that the train could not now cater for business travellers. So popular had the existing car become that sports teams and similar bodies booked it for travelling from weeks ahead, with. the result that when a business man wanted to travel he found that the car was booked out. A daily service would spread the traffic."

Suitability of Timetable. The appreciation that the chambers of commerce of Taranaki felt at being consulted in the arrangement of the existing timetable was voiced by Mr. Cameron. The schedule had fitted in admirably. At . the outset it was stated that "the service would be made a daily one when the patronage warranted such a move, the intention being to put on an extxa car. Since then, of course, obst'acles had the patronage would be greater if. the arisen. He agreed with Mr. Polson that service was continuous. Tl.e present service had proved a valuahle innovation, said Mr. Hayton. He quoted an occasion when the car was

booked out. on three consecutive weekends, a fact which had resulted in a business man sustaining monetary loss. At the .present time it was felt that the full value was . not being obtained from the rail-car. . Mr. Burnip atfirmed the remarks of previous speakers . about the number of occasions upon which the car was bookto see the service made a daily one.