THE FOUR O'CLOCK TRAIN

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10561, 17 February 1912, Page 5

THE FOUR O'CLOCK TRAIN

REFUSED BY THE MINISTER. OTHER SERVICES ASKED FOR. At the mooting of tho Masiterton Chamber of Commerce yesterday, the following communication was received from tho Minister of Railways:— "With reference to your letter of 16th Decomlber, in regard to the re- j solution passed by your Chamber . urging that a further trial should be j given to the running of a four ■ o'clock mixed train north between Masterton and Woodville, I have the honour to inform you that it is only necessary to run goods specials between Masterton and Woodville during tho busy season. From August to"November last no specials were run, and at the present time the specials run on an average only three days a week. When this train was run previously, it was not well patronised,' and neither the present nor the prospective business warrants the running of an additional train. Under the circumstances you will, I feel recognise the fact that it is not practicable for mo to comply ) with | the request of your Chamber." v The chairman said that several set- < tiers had waited upon him and suggested tliat a mixed train should run to the North on three days in the week. Mr Henderson, in referring to the railways, said that tho Ghambei should again urge the running of the earlv train from Wellington, as formerly. This train, leaving Welling-/ ton at four or'five o'clock in the' ■morning, could run right ■ through to Woodville .',and return to Wellington ■from Masterton at five o'clock m the afternoon. This tram would .■ be a "reat convenience to business men in Masterton. • It had also been urged that the last train from Palmerston should connect with the Main Trunk raihvav, thus enabling passengers to reach ' Masterton at four o'clock in the afternoon instead of two o clock at night. ' Mr J. Ca-selberg pointed out that the present arrangement was a serious one for set/tiers in the Lower Valley. It- meant that they were . put to'the unnecessary expend of going to Wellington and taking out a fresh ticket for the Wairarapa, so that- they could reach home on the day that the Main TrunK railway came through. • i. ' Mr Summerell stated tlmt the stationmaster had rung him up and asked if the Chamber would be willing to abandon the six o'clock "train in the afternoon for the North, in favour of the four o'clock train. He had replied that personally he was not in favour of such a proposal. The Chairman said they could not agree to the six o'clock train being done away with, no. matter what happened to *the four o'clock train. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Brown, a committee consisting of Messrs J. Ca-selberg, J. B. Keith and the mover was set up 'to. prepare a report upon-the train services.