IN DAYLIGHT OR DARK.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 252, 17 July 1908, Page 2

IN DAYLIGHT OR DARK.

MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY T.IME-TABLE. 'PROPOSALS CRITICISED. , ■ "I think it is a mistake," said Mr. Massey, on being* asked for his opinion regarding the approximate times of departure from and'arrival at Auckland and Wellington announced by the Minister for Railways.for'the North Island Main Trunk railway serried "I think that the trains should leave both cities early in the morning and thus get through-the best part of tho scenery in daylight.'; ; Leaving Auckland at'B.3o at night would moan that Makatote (which is roughly about halfway to Wei-'' lington) would be reached about six in. tho morning, after a great deal of the interesting, portion of the trip had been, covered. For six months in the year this.'.would mean travelling in the dark up to that point. In regard to tho trip northward from Wellington, the position, of course, would bo much worse, as the whole of tho central portion of tho line would have to be-traversed between nightfall and dawn. "There is another point," said Mr. Massey, "and that is that until a lino which contains so many, cuttings and .embankments is properly consolidated it is a mistako to travel over it at night." As to the ordjnary two days' train, Mr. Massey said tliat tho suggestion that tho slow train could bo taken did not adequately meet tho position. That, hp said, would no : doubt bo a mixed passenger . and goods train, and it would not be nearly so satisfactory to passengers/who would naturally prefer to ■travel by• tho,-faster and more comfortable train. "I' think tho. time-tablo is- most objectionable on-the face of it,"''said.another: Auckland member, '.'but' until I have looked into the.matter more closely I do not care to "say much. Perhaps it cannot be';helped, but Ido not-like it:" , '. . • AUCKLAND PRESS OPINIONS. ... (HI TELEGRAPH.—SI?ECIAL COEEESrONDENT.) . , ; • Auckland, July 10. - In a l 'leader . and in interviews this morning, tho "Herald" attacks the proposed Main Trunk Railway time-tablo. "We shall be greatly surprised," the paper says, " if the people of Auckland do not mako a streuuous effort •to ■ compel the Government to alter the time-ta.ble. arranged- for tho through express to-Wellington, bo far as tho hour fixed tor the departure-of the express from this city is concerned. It seems to us that tho time-table makes the Auckland-Wellington-connection a mere incident in the carrying, of: mails to' Invercargill. This, sounds preposterous, but an examination of the situation will show that it is exactly correct." TheAuckland province is to be traversed by midnight trains both- coming and, going, solely in-order that the express train may run-in' and out of Invercargill at convenient hours.This is all the more audacious when it is remembered that tho Main Trunk Railway was never thought of as merely contributory to: Invercargill's status, but was primarily clamoured for as making a sadlyneeded direct connection between. Auckland and Wellington. Auckland is the. only , city of tho Dominion from which the through trains will run out at night and, run - in. early in the morning... Passengers through every province :but this will ..travel principally by daylight. Through Auckland. province they will travel in tho dark. Tho, railway officials, in-order- to avoid-night staffing the Auckland section, advised a daylight run through . Auckland, and to: let Invercargill get its mails a few hours, later,'.but "this . has been ignored ;on the- pretentious plea that .'the time-table must be. framed to give, .the most convenient and. rapid transit between Auckland and: tho Bluff . ' If the South wishes to havo . daylight trains it- might.: hav». them,' but itkshould not .have': them :'at . our. Northern- expense. - If the Government has, any'intention::of maintaining oven the appearance .of fairness' in tho"-matter,, it will reconsider the- time-table ..and ; arrange the Auckland; Wellington ; service with some slight 1 -regard ;;for ; provincial; requirements. Thct-'changel we suggest, 1 ilip rtraintrtp' leave Auckland at ,10 a.m. instead of 8-30-p.m.,' would'-enable--the - journey „to bp broke.n in. Wellington duriiig tho \ daytime, .woiild ,allow: our-' ' business ?'ifolk to . leave ton on v the return Journey" .'.the s samedayarid • '.;woilld','!.' ;;vmost interesting land) , picturesque' parts; > of. the : Inland during • daylight,,', Moreover, arid 'here is : amost',.'•'important-: point,' .it' would be of some.use to . those who reside.at or do business: with: points oii tho Main line. It would provide r£' fast daylight service .between the-principal-interriiediate stations as well as between Auckland' and Wellington, and would not" shoot ■ through - in ; the dark while all the country slept." ' \ 'The -''Star" takes: up-the cudgels for a night service, and remarks: —"Advocates of the-"morning 'oxpresi calmly '.propose that tho mails shall be kept waiting a whole dayin Wellington to allow a few people to look; in 'a bad light for a few minutes at a-few-miles' of ' scenery. - Surely no more preposterous attempt was' ever • made' to -interlero with a great public soiYiee, and to obstruct the attainment of what lis admittedly .one-of the chief objects of - its\"establishment. Wo 'need hardly elaborate this argument'in. favour of rapid mail transit, for public feeling, especially among commercial. ■ men, is so strong on this subject tiat it' cannot possibly be ignored. To contend with our critics that tho'-Main Trunk liu'e is-merely, a connection between Wellington and Auck-, land, and that- the tirac-tdble might fairlybo arranged without specialVroference to. the transmission of the northern mails, is . simply puerile. ' It must bd,' : clcarly: understood that if the mails and (passengers 'are to lda'vo ; for the south without unnecessary 'delay, after arrival in Welling ion, the Auckland express must fit in with, the steamer time-table.'. K : ■\-y- >.