THE RAILWAYS SERVICE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7963, 14 February 1906, Page 5

THE RAILWAYS SERVICE.

CONFERENCE aT PALMERSTON NORTH. A PROTEST AGAINST OVERCROW DINU. PALMESRTON N., February 13. A conference was tield horo, today, between representatives • from the Napier, Daunevirko, Wnodville, Wairarapa, Pahiatua, Feildiug, Foxton, and Wanganui Chambers of Commerce to discuss the interdistrict railway services. The principal resolutions passed wnve as follow:—That in the opiuion of the conference it is essential to the better management of the railway system of the North island that the State should at once undertake the purchase of tbe property of tbe Wellington and Mauawatu Railway Company; that the attention of the Railway Department be called to the continual overcrowding of the mail trains, and the lack of lavatory accommodation provided, and that it is a request to the General Manager of Railways that improved facilities in these respects be provided; that the Department be asked to at once establish the tablet system on* the WoodvilleNapier, Masterton-Woodville, and Taihape-Marton sections;that in the opinion of the conference enquiries into all railway accidents involving risk of human life should be held in public, and the officials under suspension in conncetion therewith be, if they so desire, represented at such enquiries of officials by one of their organisations. The mover, in supporting this resolution, said thai; in connection with the Matamau accident, where an appalling loss of life was narrowly avoided, (he iuquiiry was held en camera, nnd the dismissals ordered by officials, the President of whom was employed in the Traffic Superintendent's Office, which, morally speaking, waa on its trial for crossing; a train, without adequate safeguards, at a flag station, within a shors distance of two proper crossing stations. In support of bis contention that employees under suspension should be represented by a member of their own organisation, he said that the ordinary railway man was quite unable to bold his own at an enquiry, and was apt to "lihrow up the sponge" in the presence of the beads of the Department. What was wanted was that tbe facts should come out in the nublio interests, and the be&t way to accomplish that was an inquiry above board and out in the op9u.