THROUGH TRAIN SERVICE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9106, 4 June 1908, Page 4

THROUGH TRAIN SERVICE.

It is to be hoped, in the interests of the people of the Dominion, that the through train service between Auckland and Wellington, when the line is will not be used for the purpose of tourist traffic at the expense ol the whole community. The tourist gets far too much out of the Dominion, and the Dominion far too little out of the tourist as it is, and if the time-table of the through Auckland-Wellington express is to be made to fit the tourist rather than the general traveller, the traffic is bourn! to suffer. The Government proposals for the time-tables for expresses between Auckland and Dunedin have been published, and there seems to be a desire on the part of certain influential people lo have the running by day instead of by night, so that tourists may see the beauties of the country through which the line from Auckland passes. The Government's idea is to start the express frJtn the northem terminus at S p.m., reaching Wellington at 5 p.m. the next day, but exception is taken to this cn the ground that the scenic beauties would be lost to touristd. The latter, however, will form a very small percentage of the traveller?, and should in no way bo considered as against the public interest. An Auckland Government official of high standing is reported to have said to an uiterviewer that "the Main Trunk Railway will be largely a tourists' line, and we must consider them." It will indeed be a poor look out if so costly an undertaking is to be in any sense dependent upon the comparatively scanty tourist traffic along

that line. The Government, however, will doubtless set aside the question of tourist traffic in favour of considerations more commercially sound. At any rate, it is to be hoped so.