THE WAIRARAPA TIME TABLE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10103, 26 September 1910, Page 3

THE WAIRARAPA TIME TABLE.

STRONG PROTEST IN PARLIAMENT. The new time-table in the Wairarapa district was the subject of some hostile criticism in the House of Representatives on Friday night. Mr Buchanan (Wairarapa) remarked on what he termed the scurvy treatment which his district got in the matter of railway communication. No one was better aware of this than the Minister for Railways that his district deserved well in every respect and more particularly in regard to its railways. These railways were paying handsomely, and he challenged anyone to contradict this. And still the service was being starved. Large numbers of fat cattle were being sent from rbe Wairarapa to the South Island, but a dealer in the Wairarapa had been informed by the Railway Department that only two trucks of cattle could be taken by the only train running to catch the steamer to Lyttelton unless the dealer was prepared to pay the additional 1 cost of an extra engine to take more than, two trucks over the Rimutaka Hill. The L'e- ' partment must recognise that this was' blocking the trade, and that their intimation meant that it would be impossible to send cattle,from the Wairarapa to Lyttelton.

The Prime Minister: What is wrong?

Mr ißuchanan: If the lion, gentleman does not choose to listen, I think it is an impertinence that he should make an interjection hVe that.

Continuing, Mr Buchanan complained of the rate of speed width trains leaving Featherston for Wellington were allowed to get .ip. Hefore passing the second crossing at Featherston the train got up h o much speed for safety. Owing .to the position of the crossing in question, there had been several very narrow escapes.

The Hon. J. A. Millar said that the train by which it was asked the cattle should be taken was fully taxed, and only two trucks of cattle could be taken on it. They could not put another engine on to pull one truck to Wellington. Mr Buchanan would not do this himself, and he had no right to expect the Department to do it. Masterton people would have to do with their cattle as was done with horses—that was to bring them down the day before they were shipped. If there was sufficient loading guaranteed the Department would put on a special train. In regard to the speed of the trains, every driver had definite instructions in regard to the speed he should travel on each portion of the ' line. He knew ~ himself that these instructions were not always carried out, but the Department was getting speed indicators, and were being fitted to the trains, and these would enable the Department to keep track of men when they went over the speed limit. The whole time-table was worked out so as to allow of a fair rate of speed being maintained over the whole line. As to the time-table,, the Wairarapa must realise that it was now only a branch line. The line still paid, but it did not give a sufficient margin to carry out all the member for the Wairarapa desired should be done. If the Wairarapa people liked to forgo the' connection with Napier and with Palmerston —ortb. he would be prepared to go into the matter again, and give them the time-table that would suit them.

Mr Hogg (Masterton) said that if the time-table as regards passengers in the Wairarapa line was designed to cause inconvenience and loss to those who used the railway, it could not have been better framed. He knew the Minister was anxious to make the line as convenient as possible, but if the present state of things was allowed to continue people would be absolutely forced v to leave the railways and get some other means of moving about. The line was only used at present by those who were absolutely forced to use it.