LYTTELTON TRAIN SERVICE.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15931, 19 June 1917, Page 2

LYTTELTON TRAIN SERVICE.

YESTERDAY'S PUBLIC

MEETING.

PETITION TO BE PREPARED,

A public meeting, convened by his Worship the Mayor, was held in tho Council Chambers yesterday morning to further consider tho matter of-the Lyttelton train service and tho Minister's reply. The chairman said he was sure that everyone was loath to do anything to hamper the Government in its desire to release men for military service, but Mr Herries's reply, from his point of viow, was unsatisfactory. The Minister persisted in stressing the point of suburban trains, but that was not the idea set out by tho deputation at all. All that was wanted was a time-table train, so that tho "men could got back from work without unnecessary trouble. The requisition train, of course, was allowed, but the citizens felt that this .Jjas not as convenient as a time-table train. The Minister said that a requisition train would not need so many men as a time-table train, but he, the speaker, could not seo how that could be. He felt that if there was a good road between Christchurch and the port the citizens would not trouble the Minister, but would make other arrangements; but, as matters were, a train was necessary for the quick and economical working of tho port. Tho waterside workers had already said that a requisition train was not satisfactory to the watersiders, that they could not work under these conditions. Mr A. Kaye deplored the manner in which the Minister had tried to cover up essential points by the verbosity of his reply. The railway authorities ro fused to recognise the unique position of Lyttelton, and -also ignored the watersiders' position, the men having distinctly stated that a requisition train was not satisfactory to them. The action of the railway authorities seemed to be with the object of putting .ill the obstacles in the way possible, jind on top of that they .charged prices for any offered services which were actually iniquitous. Tho speaker detailed the intricate regulations made in connexion with the special trains, and said that the only thing ho thought could be done would be to wait until tho Prime Minister came back. Ho felt that the Canterbury members of Parliament had not backed up the request for the train servico in the energetic way they could have done, and ho ' thought they wanted a more solid backing from the members of Parliament. He also thought that no man should be employed in the service who was available for the front, for there wero plenty of non-eligible men who could carry on tho necessary work; already, apparently, men wore being dismissed from Addington. and they were experienced men. able and willing to do any kind of work.

Mr W. W. Charters said the use of the shunting ongine, as suggested, would only necessitate an additional hour's work oji the part of. the railway men employed. He moved that in view of a full meeting of Cabinet being held, with Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward present, this meeting adjourn in the moantime, and that the Christchurch members of Parliament lay before the returned Ministers the full particulars of the disastrous effect of the restricted .train service on the Port of Lyttelton and North Canterbury, with a view of getting the whole position reviewed. The motion -was seconded.

Tho chairman read an apology from tho Mayor of Woolston (Mr Macgregor Wright). He stated thaftho Woolston Borough Council had passed the following resolution: —"That this Council joins with the other local authorities in protesting against the elimination of the 9.15 p.m. frain from Christchurch to Lyttelton, and requests tho Government to reinstate the same."

The Mayor said he had also received a letter from Mr 0. J. Parr, 'M.P.. of Auckland, which put a different construction on his much-discussed letter to the Minister. Mr Parr stated that ho recognised the claims of Christchurch and Lyttelton and thoroughly supported them.

Dr. Thacker supported the obtaining of n, big petition from Christchurch, which he presented to the Railway Committee of the House. This would be going a bit further than the resolution. Ho considered that, as Mr Ivaye had suggested, if the Railway Department wanted to send eligible men nwav it could very easily find nonoligiblo men to take their place and keep ail efficient service going. s Already men wore being "sacked" from Aldington "Workshops who would be vei-y ready to take the work on.

Mr W. W. Charters said there would be no need to put extra hands cn for the train needed.

Mr E. J. Howard said the plea that train services would have to bo curtailed owiag to lack of labour w.~<s not true. Thero was plenty of labour available in

the Dominion, and also in Christchurch.

Mr L. M. Isitt-. M.P., supported tha statement that thero was labour available. He considered that the protest put up by the Christchurch citizens was not made in any petty spirit, but because they objected to see the Minister try to save 3d at tho cost of £5. Ho had heard from shipping men that the delay in the shipping of meat on two steamers only had caused a loss of well over £1000 already to tho Imperial Government. Railwaymen had told him that they were absolutely astounded at the difficulties made by the , Department, and said that at the outside it would mean the employment of > four men for some timo longer. Tho ; Minister's talk about "bringing the i staff back" was absolute piffle, and his excuse that if he gave Christchurch the train asked for ho would also have to give similar concessions to "Wellington, Dunedin, and elsewhere was unworthy 1 of a Minister of the Crown who had any sense of his responsibilities. He thought that if tho Canterbury Chamber of Commerce took the Christchurch members into its confidence occasionally with regard to business matters it would be a good thing. Mr Kaye said that some of the Canterbury members worked hard for tho business interests of the province, but he would like to see all °f them more solid for its welfare. The motion was then put and carried, and a further motion by Dt. Thacker that a representative petition be prepared was also agreed to. A sub-committee, consisting of the Mayor, Dr. Thacker. and Messrs A. Kaye and H. S. Bourn, was appointed to draw up the petition. TELEGRAM TO THE MINISTER. It was decided at a special meeting of the Council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, yestorday, to send the following telegram to the Hon. Minister of Railways:— It would appear frtam your reply to our resolution re reinstatement of 9.45 p.m. train Lyttelton to Christchurch, that the objection lies in interfering with Cabinet's. policy of suburban trains. This Chamber claims the right to havo its application considered on its merits seeing that Christchurch and Lyttelton are one distributing centre, Lyttelton not being a suburb of Christchurch, and that tho requisition train does not meet the position. Meantime the trade of the port is seriously interfered with, importers' goods being over-carried as well as exporters' goods being left behind, thereby not conserving to the full tho tonnage available.