PUBLIC MEETING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1932, 6 March 1885, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

In answer to a requisition signed by BeventyTßix ratepayers, representing the principal business portion of the community a public meeting oonvened by His Worsliip tho Mayor was held in the upper room of the Institute last night. ■ His Worship in opening the business read the advertisement callingthe meeting, also the petition he had received from the burgesses, in the absence of Mr Lowes who was otherwise engaged that evening, The Chairman said he would himself move the first resolution as follows" That in interests of the trado of Masterton and the in the interests of the passenger traffic on the railway it is desirable that the after noon train from Masterton should leave at the same time as the corresponding train from Wellington." He remarked the train left Wellington about half past four o'clock, and all present knew the great inconvenience caused by the short stay visitors from Wellington had to put up with, It was impossible to get through their business in the short timo alloted them. The 'bus from the train generally reached the town at 12.30andwas waiting to leave for the train at 1.30. Passengers therefore had to be put to the expense of staying all night if they had any business to do. The expense this necessitated was not the only thing complained of. There was the inconvenience and loss occasioned by, suoh an unnecessary prolonged absence from their business. The passenger traffic ..would be considerably increased if the Wellington people could visit Masterton and other townships and have time to properly get through their business and return to town the same day Some few years sincethey had tried to get a similar concession granted them, but failed through the illiberality of the then Government. The excuse then was the extra..expense they would be put to in having to employ more hands and pay overtime, and the line was not paying well enough to warrant it. That reason would not hold good now. The traffic and trade had so coni siderably increased as to make this line one of the best paying lines in the colony The fact of tjie wfo|q (Mpt# being unanimous ii} making this request should greatly incline the Minister of Railways to grant the concussion asked. Mr E, Feist in seconding tho resolution 1 endorsed the remarks of the mover. There was another strpng reason why tho timo of the train leaving Masterton should ' bo extended tq a jater liouv. The papier 1 coach did not get iji generally until hftlfpistono, and thero was bare tjn|o for through passoiigers to catch, the train lot 1 alone stopping for a moal of tp do any busi--1 iiess t and as the traffic through tho bush 1 was increasing so considerably, that should be considered, lie bclievpd the propqsed change was a step'in the right direction, and the railway authorities would see the advantage that wouhj accrue tq thenjseives by the adoption of the prppo-sedalteratjon. Mr J. positioii of' tljis djsti'igt jn resflec't to , making tjjeir wants known fins} getting their fishes gffecfed expeaitiflply.' Tliey , had qeitlier a iqanagef nor an assistant manager fesidgnt in Jfastorton pd it lyas only about once in three months that Mr Ashcroft put in an appearance in their midst. Tliere was no. one to look after the developementfo their tradeand they would therefore have to more directly consider their own interests and if it came to a fight over this question he hoped they would be unanimous in fighting (cheers). The resolution was then put and , earned unanimously amidst cheers. The next resolution was proposed by by Mr A. W. Hogg—"That a standing committee be appointed, to represent the requirements of Masterton in tjie njatter of railway accommodation, the committee to consist of Messrs Oasglberg, Feist, Hooper, Bapp, Muir, Payton, Bacon, and the mover," He said there was very little argument needed to convey to the minds of those present the necessity that existed for such a committee, They had along the line a fairly efficient staff, but the management almost invariably showed great reluctance in making recommendawhen suggested to them. From having no resident manager or assistant in their midst, they were at a great disadvantage. A committee as proposed would supply tips deflcieney aj)d Jafee Cfigni§ancj} of any imperfection that pgeded removal go as.tp bring about an alteration in the system of management, Thjs movement would not impede the present management in any way, but would on the contrary assist by removing any impediment to the successful working of the line. The object of the Department was to. develop as much as possifile the trade in the district. In the past, fares had been somewhat high, and freight charges, if not excessive, were at least anomulous. Those who felt it should have some means qf making their requirements known. This they cqul'dnflt do qndcr the present circumstances, except by a meeting such as was being held that evening, If they had a Committee as was proposed, it could place itself in communication with the management and bring pressure to bear upon the Railway Department. He was glad to soo since Mr Richardson had been at the head of the Department thoy were getting out of the grooves which the late fossilized Ministry had run in so long, and by an intelligent system studying the requirements of the district, and by the introduction of cheap excursion trains and other ways, were popularising our railways, He had no doubt the Hon. Mr Richardson, seeing that it was their unanimous wjsh, would grant the extension pf tho time pi the departure of the train 'for Wellington, 1 ' " The Chairman sajd he would make one remark fpr fear a >yr°ng impression would gp abroad Mr Hogg had alluded to the Railway management, He thought they would all bear him out that the officials were not to bjamo in the matter whatevor. They had to obey orders which they did in an intelligent and liberal manner, They were not fighting with the officials but their masters, Mr Muir seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. ' Mr Hogg stated there was a deputation going to Wellington on the following day pd if tljafc meeting wwW intrust its interest? to" thdii) t]iey would wR!!DQ n the Mhmter pf Railway? in furtherance. Of . the resolutions just passed, 'j„' n The following wore appointed a deputation to wait upon the Hon, Mr' Richardson, in conjunction with the member for the district, Mr G. BeethamMessra Caselberg, Gapper, Redman, Kibblewhite, McCardle, and Hogg. A vote of thanks to the Chairman conduced one of the most unanimous meeting?'M''ff)f sjije tjjne jn IJlagtepton.