Ban Sought On Timaru Excursion Train

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29367, 21 November 1960, Page 16

Ban Sought On Timaru Excursion Train

(New Zealand Press Association)

TIMARU, Nov. 19. A ban has been sought on the traditional Christchurch-Timaiu special excursion train for this New Year's Eve celebrations. This is because it is feared an undesirable out-of-town element might join the influx of visitors for the festivities and create a disturbance.

The Minister of Railways (Mr Moohan) has been asked by the Caroline Bay Association and the Timaru branch of the National Council of Women to cancel any arrangements made for running an excursion train this year. It is expected that the result of the representations to Mr Moohan will be passed on to the president of the Timaru branch of the Council of Women (Mrs J. Peacock) through the member of Parliament for Timaru (Mr Clyde Carr).

Whether the excursion train runs or not, there will again be a strong police patrol on the bay during the festivities. St. John Ambulance workers will probably be there in force, too, after the experiences of previous years. Last New Year's Eve, a record number of 42 cases were treated at the St. John Ambulance station. Beer bottles used as weapons were reported to have caused some of the injuries After the festivities an ambulance spokesman said many of those treated had cuts on the head and other general lacerations, apparently received during melees on the bay. Blisters caused by fire crackers thrown among the crowds also brought many people to the first-aid station. On New Year’s Day itself, broken bottles were a frequent source of injury. "Rough Element” The president of the Caroline Bay Association (Mr Les Grant) said that he did not favour the running of a train to bring a rougher element to the bay on New Year’s Eve. The first such excursion, four or five years ago, was an innovation.

He said that there had been a trend towards the irresponsible element “whose presence doesn't do Timaru—and the carnival in particular—any good.” “The National Council of Women feels there are large enough crowds and the holiday spirit here without bringing down an excursion train.” said Mrs Peacock. “From reports, such trains are usually full of teenagers intent on a night out away from control and normal restraint.” She said that there would be difficulties in getting meals and that intoxicating drink would have an effect. The collective views of the council had been strengthened, she thought, by the reports of incidents at the Hastings Blossom Festival. Police Inspector's View Chief Inspector S. J. Lush, head of the Timaru police, said that from what he understood, much of the crowd which comes down on the train is no credit to the place. “Of course, it would be unfortunate if decent people were barred through the actions of the irresponsible types,” he said. The stationmaster at Timaru (Mr H. J. Culling) said that as far as he knew, there would be an excursion this year. After checking with his Christchurch office, he confirmed that plans have been made for a train to leave Christchurch at 4 p.m. on December 31, arriving at Timaru at 7.30 p.m. As New Year's Day falls on a Sunday and the official festivities will end at midnight, the train is scheduled to return to Christchurch at 12.30 a.m. Historical “Mr Mathison would have made a great Minister of Civil Aviation in the days of the Wright Brothers.”—Mr H. R. Lake (National, Fendalton) speaking of the Minister’s attitude to the Christchurch airport.