THE NEW TIME TABLE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9663, 30 November 1909, Page 5

THE NEW TIME TABLE.

WAIRARAPA DEPUTATION WAIT ON MINISTER OF RAILWAYS. THE MINISTER'S REPLY. Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, November 29. Replying 10-night to a deputation from Wairarapa re a railway time table, the Minister impressed upon the deputation that the opening of the Main Trunk line had completely altered the whole railway system, the result; being that the time tables had to be readjusted throughout the country. The Wairarapa line, from being a main line, had now become more of a local service, and in formulating its new time table he had to try to meet the convenience of residents, while at the same time conserving the public interest by cutting out all unnecessary trains. He would give them some figures as to the traffic over the Rimutaka incline, and then ask them whether with a steadily falling revenue he would be justified in continuing the running as formerly. The present service was far in excess of requirements. He had not tried to divert traffic ±rom the Rimutaka, but it was quite possible that before long everything for north of Eketahuna would be sent round through the i Manawatu. For the week ending November 30th, 1907, the tonnage hauled over the Rimutaka was 11,357 tona. For the corresponding week of 1908 it was 9,311 tons, and for that of 1909 it was 4,814 tons, or in other words a drop of nearly two thirds in two years. For the year ending November, 1908, the ton nage hauled was 445,283 tons, and for that ending with the present month it was 291,167 tons, or a decrease of 154,116 tons. Then for the first 24 weeks of the year 185,871 tons had to be hauled, and for the last 24 weeks 105,194 tons, a decrease of 80,677 tons. How could he j possibly run trains when there was no stuff to carry? It was bad enough now, and there would be further loss ' when the mail train was diverted to the other side. As to running the train on to Eketahuna, a fairlv large | expenditure would be entailed for j it would mean putting up a stable for the engines, facilities for coal, and so on. Then for the 22 miles extra from Masterton it would cost _ £6 Is to pay working expenses alone on every trip, which was far and \ above what would bs carried. In a year the run on to Eketahuna would mean an extra expenditure of £3,700 He was trying to make the railways pay, but by only one of

two ways could he do Jt. He had | either to reduce the trains to the necessities )f the district or increase the fares all round. He was endeavouring to keep rates down, but there was only the one course open to him. Unproductive or unnecessary trains would simply have to go. He was not going to run trains simply for {he convenience pf h?lf a 3 0 .2 en. people. He had some further flgurea relative to the tonnage hauled over | the incline, during the six months up < to May last. It was considerably over 1,000 tons a day, and on one occasion went up to 2,277 tons in a day. In one week they hauled 11,596 i tons, but since May there had been a j great falling off. Only on four occasions had the tonnage got into four figures, the maximum being 1,199 tons, and the lowest 504 tons. The weekly tonnage was 5,742 tons, so that altogether it was quite apparent that the tonnage was insufficient to warrant the running of all these trains. Tne trade was not there-as a matter of fact the more traffic they could divert from that expensive line the better it would be for the country. Generally speaking, he had acceded to every request save one that was put forward by the recent conference at Palmerston, and now he would like them to give the new timetable a fair trial for a while. He would watch it very carefully and if there was any hardship that he could remove he would do hit best to d" so. _______