RAILWAY TRAVELLING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 July 1942, Page 4

RAILWAY TRAVELLING

RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED. ON NORTH ISLAND PASSENGERS. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Restrictions on railway passenger travel in the North Island as from Monday, July 27 were announced yesterday by the Minister of Railways, Mr Semple. They are somewhat similar to those imposed during Christmas and Easter, and permits will be required to travel beyond 100 miles. The permit system, however, will not apply to members of the armed forces in uniform, wives and families accompanying returned soldiers travelling on their four weeks’ special leave passes, and holders of annual or season tickets for distances over 100 miles. The Minister stated that the matter had been considered by the War Cabinet. Because of the increasingly heavy demands being made on the department’s carriage stock for military purposes in the North Island it was necessary to restrict travelling by the general public so as to meet fully all de-, fence requirements. “A passenger wishing to purchase a ticket involving a rail journey of more than 100 miles in the North Island,” said Mr Semple, “will require first of all to make application at any officered station or at the Cential Booking Office at Auckland or Wellington and satisfy the interviewing officer that his proposed journey is necessary for business reasons or other essential purpose. He will then be issued with a permit enabling him to purchase a single or return ticket for the journey and to reserve his seat (for both the outward and the homeward journey if desired). The passenger will retain the permit but will be required to produce it to guards and others as may be found necessary, and, in the case of a single journey, finally surrender it when his ticket is collected/’ _ _