THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1909. WAIRARAPA RAILWAY SERVICE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9638, 2 November 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1909. WAIRARAPA RAILWAY SERVICE.

Several weeks have elapsed since it was first announced that the Government intended to effect very decided I alterations to the railway timetable now observed in the Wairarapa. The only really official information i to hand so far is the account of the Minister for Railways' annoyance at the fact of the news "leaking out." The question that naturally preseiits itself is what really would have happened had the news not been forthcoming Apparently the new system , was to have been instituted without ' the wishes of Wairarapa residents beI ing consulted at all. The most satis factory part ot the whole proceedings, however, is the prompt action taken by the Masterton Chamber of Commerce. With the first whisper of an alteration that body took the opportunity to discuss the matter. The result was the carrying of a resolution to the effect that the Minister for Railways be asked to submit a copy of the proposed alteration toHhe local Chamber before a change was made. It was also decided that if the Minister acceded to this request that a conference of the various Wairarapa Chambers be held in Masterton in order to see how far the Wairarapa would be affected under the new order ot things. The Minister was accordingly notified of the Chambers' desire, and it is now understood that he is agreeable to grant the request. The Chamber can take no further action now until they hear from the Department. It is to be hoped that the information will speedily come to nand for if it is correct that the new arrangement is to operate from the end of the present month, there is little time to be lost. If the new timetable is to 1 take the form of the one, particulars of which have already been published I in these columns, then the Conference will have plentv of matter for consideration. For instance, the proposal to delay the afternoon mail train to Wellington for about an hour is a most ridiculous one, and if put into effect will prove a great source of annoyance and inconvenience to Wairarapa residents. At present the train i 3 excellently timed to connect passengers and mails with Southern boats, and the delaying of the train mentioned will completely upset this arrangement. Again, visitors to the Empire City desirous of transacting business will find that I the late hour of arrival will not be ' a suitable one. There is no doubt j that if strong representaion is made , to the Department, that this train <

will not be disturbed. There is also the question of the abolishment of the early morning train to the Wairarapa. Ihe early train from Cross Creek North is apparently piling to travel at a snail's pace, and it should either leave that point an hour earlier or the speed should be increased. Among other matters the Conference might very well ux*ge upon the Department the desirability of increasing the speed of VVairarapa trains all round, as the preaent rate at which they travel is most unsatisfactory.