THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1910. OUR RAILWAY SERVICE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10004, 29 March 1910, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1910. OUR RAILWAY SERVICE.

The expected alterations in the railway service have now been published, and so far as the Wairarapa ia concerned there is. practically, no alteration provided for. A dog-box, or something of the sort, is to be attached to a Woodville-Palmerston North train, so that passengers travelling from the Wairarapa and Palmerston North will be able to complish the almost incredible feat of travelling continuously from this district to the capital of the Manawatu. Thejoumey will be accomplished in something under six hours, and passengers successfully essaying the performance will, no doubt, be heartily glad to leave the train upon arrival at their destination. As a matter of fact both the importance and convenience of Masterton have not received that degree of attention from the Minister for Railways, since he entered upon his policy oi retrenchment, that they deserve. Of course, upon the acquisition by the

Government of the Manawatu , line it was clear tbat the Wairarapa could no longer expect the excellent railway service it had previoualy.enjoyed. This we have recognised all along, but though the number of passenger trains had to be reduced there was, and there is, no reason why that reduced number should not be conveniently timed. Had proper consideration been given to the requirements of Masterton we should have a more convenient service than that which is in existence to-day. "In a multitude of physicians there is death," and, apparently, in a multitude of Chamhers of Commerce there is disaster. Innumerable resolutions of a somewhat bewildering character were passed at various conferences, and tha amount of attention that the Minister gave to the resolutions is apparent in the railway service with which the district is provided. We have previously expressed the opinion that conferences where, practically, all the motions are agreed to in order that the representatives of each chamber may get thfir particular-motions put through, are worse than useless. Had the Masterton Chamber of Commerce tackled the Minister assiduously in re- - ganl,'td Mastert6n;requirements alone tHey would, probably, have accomplished something—as it is, of course, all their work and |labour is in vain] The signal failure of Masterton's commercial representatives to induce the Minister to make any alterations in the new railway service is, also, indirect, but cogent 1 evidence ot the fact that the Gorernnnent of the day is not interested in the welfare of Masterton—if the electorate could make itself felt polii tically it could possibly secure better treatment. But it seems beyond doubt >. ■ that for a considerahb time to come it will have to put up with the rail- , way servicb iust as at present arranged.