“THE GOVERNOR STOPS THE WAY."

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11946, 15 July 1904, Page 5

“THE GOVERNOR STOPS THE WAY."

♦ A COMPLAINT FROM WELLINGTON. (SPKCIAL TO "THE PHRSS.") WELLINGTON, July 14. To-night's "Post" has an article under tho above heading, stating that when the 4.35 suburban train to the Hutt left the Government railway station yesterday, it contained many irato passengers, who learned at tho last moment that the train would he "held up" at Ngahauranga for twenty-seven minutes to allow the "special" of tlie Governor to pais from the Hutt races. Arrived at tho stop station, it was found that the official time of extension was half an hour. Eventually it was forty-eight minutes before the passenger train was allowed to resume its journey. Meanwhilo tlie 5.23 outward train from Wellington was detained until 5.50, nnd many anxious householders in the Hutt were kept in suspense as to the cause of delay in the arrival of their men folk at tlie usual hour. As an instance of the discomfort and disorganisation of the suburban traffic, some sixty men were kept standing in the rain at Ngahauranga for nearly an hour, waiting for the overdue train that had ibecn apparently delayed for the personal convenience of the Governor, and similar detention-? of courre, occurred all along tho line. We do not Believe for a moment," says the 'Tost," that his Excellency was aware that lie was the cause, of this complete dislocation of tho suburban railway traffic, and wo feel sure that it has only to he brought under his notice to make a recurrer.co of such inconvenience to the travelling public from the same cSuso impossible. We assume that ho expressed a. desire to return to town at a particular time, and that the complaisant Railway Department m-.de its arrangements accordingly, without for a moment considering th<- engagements or comfort of tl» public, who are-its constituents, and own tho raifwavs. Tho Department has be?:» m lone? subservient to the insolent disregard of the convenience of tlie public by the Premier on his frequent railway journeyincs. that its nfne-vs may naturally be expected to accede, without demur, to tlie wishes of the Governor, without regard to (Tie requirements of the fravellini? puffie. We feel rare, however, tbnt « bringing the '.tvndent of yesterday umfar the notice of Ivs Excellency, he will avoid its recurrenc-'*. As for the Premier, in mrh Tr.s.-'ter.i h.«j i« p*t.«t redemption, and we feel fTire that. I/ord Plunfcet *'r» the la*t man in hnv» any desire to follow bis bad cxampl?. t