THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1909. A SATISFACTORY ASSURANCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9655, 20 November 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1909. A SATISFACTORY ASSURANCE.

Through the courtesy of Mr A. W. Hogg, member for Maaterton, we are able to announce this morning in connection with the much discussed I "new" railway timetable for the Wairarapa that a train has been arranged to leave Masterton daily at a convenient hour of 6 p.m. for the Bush district. From statements formerly published we anticipated in our references to the question under discussion that an error had been made in the compilation of the timetable in respect to the trains leaving Masterton for districts north of this town. It was absurd to suppose that the Railways Department would not provide for any train leaving Masterton for the north after midday. We are pleased to have the assurance of Mr Hogg that there has been an omission in the publication of the timetable that will come into force on the first of next month. A train at six o'clock in the evening is certainly timed to suit the convenience of Bush settlers, who by that hour will have completed any business which they may have had to transact in Masterton —an earlier hour of departure in the afternoon would be a mistake. Apart, however, from the actual arrangement of the timetable there is admittedly a very serious defect which is common to the running of trains in New Zsaland. Visitors to i our shores and many who are resident within the country, indulge in witticisms which are generally made in a serious vein as to the slowness of the trains. There is no excuse, and consequently no excuse has ever | been made in regard to this serious defect. It is a matter that does not merely require explanation for any explanation made would be void. It is a matter that requires to be remedied, and it is one that is capable of remedy. The whole question will no doubt be carefully reviewed by the conference of Associated Chambers of Commerce on Tuesday next. More rapid communication by railway is advisable and < practically essential to the development of the district, and we hope ! ; that 'h? conference b) tie lull w : U , make an unmistakably strong r«pre-

sentation to the Government in regard to a question that is not merely of local b'jt national importance.