BOOKED RAILWAY SEATS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12177, 25 April 1905, Page 9

BOOKED RAILWAY SEATS.

TO THE EBTOE Of TH_ PKESS. Sir article on the above subject wisely, I think, suggests the use of the Tourist Department, which, by the way, was lot in existence when the proposal to roerve seats for long distance passengers was first Emitted for Govornmeit approval. In a paper, written 12th 1900, ™%.«>™ after forward to Sir J. G. Ward, occura the flowing paragraph-part of a scheme or establishing a Tourist Office:— • ... , . - " In the ol<pr counlnes, and in a few cases in Now Zealand it is usual to set apart for loi'g distance travellers certain railway carriages, and the more general adof ion of sucn an am to comfort would afl to the, at present, not overwhelmirg attractiveness of our flight from city t> city, and eight to sight. Tourists shaild be able to register their tickets iv juch a way as to minimise inconveniejce in case of loss, and any luggage tby may desire to deposit in a luggage depot should be charged for at oonsidejably leas than 2d a day (per package).'. . In connection with places in/ailway carriages, there ought to' be npdifficulty in facilitating the booking t through seats, where up-to-date cari are used. ... A railway or "jurist chronicle may, in a tew years, hi a likely venture. . ." Some'ther features of the proposed Tourist >epartment have been adopted. Mention may be made of the opening of Stso-owned hotels, or boardingrailway control of steamers on the/lakes, and of railway refreshment ara the placing of the railway station advertising under official management, and the linking of the passenger tri»rt with the ferry steamers as at Lyttelbn. A hoped for reform is the eleotrpoation of tunnel traffic, which also ormed part of the " scheme."— Youri etc., ; J. H. NEWLY!"*.