RACE TRAINS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 120, 13 February 1908, Page 8

RACE TRAINS.

« TRAFFIC TO TRENTHAM. THE MINISTER INTERVIEWED. A deputation comprising officers and stewards of tho Wellington Racing Club yesterday interviewed'tho.Minister for Railways (tho Hon. W. Hali-Jones) on tho matter of better railway facilities in connection with tho races at Trentham. Tho members of the deputation woro Messrs. J. B. 'Harcourt (president of tho Club), R. Turnbull, W. H. Turnbull, D. J. Nathan,. J. Abbott, N. M'Lean, W., Moorhouse, G. W. M'Donald, and A. E. Whyte (secretary). Mr. Harcourt said it was desired to bring under tho notice of tho Minister tho inadequate accommodation for passengors travelling to and from tho races at Trentham at tho recent meeting. Ho said it meant that under tho recent conditions people from Wellington wero unable to gain convenient access to the course through tho trains and

3 gave up tho attempt. it was not tho int tention of tho deputation to point out how improvements could bo made. Information | on that head was in the possession of tho Department. They only wanted to bring ; undor notice the need for improvement. . Last year's attendance was a record, . and nest year they expected it would be as much I in excess again as last year was over its pre-. ; dccessor. While complaining of the service, I however, they had no intention of finding j fault with tho officials. They had found them most obliging,' and eager to do their , best. Mr. M'Donald asked for better facilities ; for passengers from the Hutt., 'The most convenient trains—tho 11 o'clock and tho 11.8, for instance—ran right through without stopping. Passengers had either to leave in tho ten o'clock train, which was too early, or by the 12.30, which was too late. Many people had' had to hiro conveyances when

they foundjthe trains did not stop. A merobdr of tho deputation pointed out that notices of train arrangements had been posted up by tho Government, and the timetables were also printed in the race-books. Tho people were to blame if they , made mistakes in tho trains. ' Mr. Abbott said that the 10.29 train from 'le Aro had been crowded with passengers, and had been unable to tako people, from the Thorndon station, 1 the platform of which had been kept clear with tho exception'of eight .or ten people. The 10.58 train, which carried thoso who had been, held back, arrived at Irentham just too late for investments to bo niado on tho first race. It must havo been delayed, on .the line,.which showed liow fragile wero the arrangements.' ' Mr. D. J. Nathan reiterated'that the' deputation had no fault to find with-the railway oflicials, who had done all they could to assist matters. He: confirmed Mr! Abbott's statement as to numbers being held back at the Thorndon station, and he also complained of tho inconvonienco suffered by the crowd through the inadequate means of access to this station. People were crushed, and if the experience was. likely to be repeated the police should be present. At Trentha'm-, also the provision in this respect for dealing with a sudden accumulation of'people, needed improving. Ho suggested an overhead bridge, it seemed, however, that more trains were wanted. Something was ncccssary for tho comfort of tho people wl)o visited tho course, iio hoped tho Minister would go carefully into tho matters laid before him. Tho hon. orary officers of the Chib had given up their time for tho benefit-'of tho sport, and they felt that if people from thoi city, found them* selves unable to get, out to the course conveniently they would not go at all. Thoso who had signed their names to the Club's guaranteo would then be running a risk they "? d ", e . ver "nticipated. Ho hoped this stato or alrairs would bo* overcome. • -, THE. MINISTER IN REPLY.: Tho Hon. Hall-Jones said ho : was glad tho deputation had brought the matter before him. It seemed from what had been said that too many people wanted to . go out to tho races and return bv tho first trains. His officers had .-informal ''himUb'attfpassetfgers from Trentham wero put through on tho race days at the rato of 1000 in twelve minutes, and when they considered tho barnors there, and the. number of people who had not their tickets ready for , snowing, and the general demeanour of a crowd in this respect,- it was good work. But. if between the • Department and themselves'sonio improved mcans : of . regulating tho' traffic could be hit-upon, it would bo better, for both, sides.. He-had understood that-the pressure at Trentham was chiefly on the public road, where tho people were' rushing to catch their trains. All wanted to got homo by the first train, but, -of course, they could not do it. This'wa- his view, of the position at the Trentham end; As to tho Thorndon end, perhaps it'would bo wiso to run . a train from Thorndon and let anothor train; from, To Aro. pick up the overflow. Hia.'officers had also .said that there was a sufficiency of' rolling stock- provided. On the - first 'and second: day of' the races seating accommodation /was -.provided for 2100 first-class passengers, and-on the. first day 1822 travelled, and on the second day 1947. . In ■ tho ' second-class 1700 seats i were provided, and 1799 travelled' on the first day, and 2000 oh the second.' Though the second-class. accommodation ■ was slightly inadequate, there was spare"room in the firstclass. . They had also eleven bogie waggons available if required. The main" point referred to was tho pressure at the Thorndon station—the train had come in from To Aro, and those' waiting outsidethe Thorndon station had found, there was .room aboard for only ten or a dozen people. This could be overcqmo,'perhaps, as Suggested, by having a'special from Thorndon. As for through trains stopping at tho Hutt, it was better for all concerned that this ' delay should' not be made.Perhaps the convenience.-.of-the. Hutt. residents could -bo met in another way. He was pleased the. railway .officers were not blamed, because ho believed they had done their best. In conclusion the. Minister said .he wanted to see as . manv people carried., on tho'.railways ,as -possible, and, therefore,, the objects of the Department in this rospect coincided with those of. the- de. putation. He hoped that next year's arrangements would bo made' tp- obyiate a recurrence of last-yearns .inconveniences.