ROTORUA NEEDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 61, 12 March 1915, Page 6

ROTORUA NEEDS.

MR. HILEY INTERVIEWED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) ______ ROTORUA, Thursday. Mr. E. 11. Hilcy, General Manager for Railways, met a deputation ot members of the Chamber of Commerce and Tourist league at the Grand Hotel, Rotorua. Air. K-'ng (chairman of the Chamber i of Commerce), who introduced the deputation, called the attention of the General Manager to the erratic running of the motor train due to arrive at 1.30 p.m. daily, mentioning , several instances of the late arrival at Kotorua, and asked Mr. Hilcy to put it right.

Mr. Maclean said that owing to limited time, he would touch on three aspects ot tiie excursion trains. First, they were asking for an extension of six months, in which to try the experimental ex'cursione, pointing out that the present experiment was not being given a fair trial, being run co clone after the racing and bowling carnival, and co near to the Easter holidays. In Auckland the steamboat companies ran week-end trips right throughout the summer season, and no doubt a number of the people who patronise these would come to Kotorua if similar facilities were provided. In New South Wales during the summer numerous excursions were provided, and if the came were given to New Zealand, Auckland, on a population basis, would have seventeen excursions a fortnight, instead of only one at present.

The Rotorua people also asked for a reduction in fares from the chief towns in New Zealand, not all on same day, but at stated periods. Seeing that Rotorua was purely a Government town, run by the people's money, the deputation had some confidence that requests would be acceded to. The Rotorua people had kept faith with the Minister of Railways in spending £50 upon advertising the excursions, and were prepared to spend yet another £50 if extended, but would like the help of the Department's expert in spending the* money to best" advantage. They also suggested some booklets bo printed and distributed.

Mr. Hiley, in reply, said he could not give any definite answer till he had gone carefully into result of the present experiment. If the experiment did not pay he would most Certainly oppose any further extension. He thought the preeent excursion fares were too low altogether, and, if continued often at the present rate, would cheapen the town, and bring cheap people. Certainly that i woe not desired. They must also bar the break of the journey, which warn bad for their ordinary trains; in fact, ■there wore co many points to consider he could not give them a definite answer ac yet. He etated that the deputation had mentioned bod times as an excuse for the excursions. He would say that he had examined .the railway records, and found that this eeaeon watt considerably better than last year's. The Department would only lie too pleased to co-operate in the matter of advertising the excursions if extended.

i Mr. King , , in thanking /Mr. Hiley for meeting them, said that the Minuter of RaUwaye had promised them that he 'would submit the results of the excursions to the Tourist .League, and let them decide whether the period should be extended, Mr. Hiley laughingly said he could not agree with ihat.

Mr. Hiley left shortly after for Tβ AroJra and Auckland.