THE NEW TIME-TABLE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 693, 18 December 1909, Page 5

THE NEW TIME-TABLE.

■ ''"■;■.' V ;FTTETHER PROTESTS. , : ;"■ , : ; ; - ;' Napier, December 17. A;, new • aspect to the . continuous protests against .the new! railway time-table. was voiced at-this morning's'meeting of the'.Napior ,Eo.tail Drapers' and Outfitters' Association.' !. Mr. J. P. Thomson referred to the inconvenience of the new arrangements. He said: "They are 'certainly.: ; inconvenient-to. our .customers,who come to: town, I understand that very few people use tho New Plymouth connection, and for. those one or two hundreds of travol-, lers are inconvenienced. I-am informed by an oxpressman that: there is noiv. less, luggage-to transport,'which means a. less number of people travelling. sere' is another point. wo should call the attention :of the Postmaster-General : fact that, owing to the late "arrival of the, mails the advantage of liaving private boxes is minimised.";. %.-..: ■;',■ ■ .-= .-.-.;■, Mr." T. Parker: "A. good many are throwing up their .boxes. ■.:'■■':':'■■:'■■ :■•'■ : ',: .,-■-'■.■ -;.'.',".:' ! Mr. Simm: When is the rent paid up to? ■ Mr.. Thompson: The end of: the year. , It : was pointed out that the Postal Department would lose revonue by the arrangement, as people would give up their boxes, and more carriers would-bo needed on deliveries. '! ■': -.'■'. M'r. Thompson:' Owing to"the iatearrival of the trains, six inen are now working overtime. . Mr. Simm: Box-holders should take . united action.-' '•■■-.. ■■■.■'.- '•-■■ : '~..'. /. '■ -■-'.':■• ./ :, :■::'. : ■■■■■■ -Mr. PaTkor-.-A'railway man told me,that the time-table could easily bo altered from this end,, and■ it could be hastened .by two hours. Qhly..Vβ.could:not have the New. Plymouth connection, which we don't want, -,' \ ■'. -. The following resolution was adopted: "That tho Poatniaster-Geiieral be-written to stating that, owing oxpress, the mails, which'used to bo sorted into private boxes .before, 7.30 p.m;, allowing correspondence .to be replied to at once, are not; now available till after ten'o'clock, and the advantage of private, boxes is thus, minimised. At yesterday's meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, furthor aotion *as decided upon. . .'■ Mr. , Ellison put in ft plea on behalf of the "cabbies,", who found that, passengers were stranded on arrival at a hotel if they got there after 10 p.m. They had to be about, at' '5 a.m." next day perhaps. The special grievances of the licensed victuallers,,the cabbies, and the public should be forwarded -to Mr. Vigor Brown, M.P., who could bring the matter under the notice, of the Minister. : A motion to'this effect was moved by.Mr. E lison, and seconded by Mr.. Baxter, who said ho heard that cabbies were losing from 205..t0 305.weekly, as the night did not. now carry the passengers'who. apparently came by other trains. Two cabbies would got fares, and about thirtcon-wouldhavo Ip go without. . Mr. Colemani If the traffic is falling oft | the Minister will be compelled to alter tho timetable. - - -.'.-.-/' :'' •■■' ■!■'■ .■■■■■' '■' '■:■ 2r..- Cranby:'! The Now'Plyniouth connection is the troublo, .'"'.. : - f , \\, Mr F-"\V" Williams: The Minister said that the traffic did ■■ not warrant tho New Plymouth connection,"and it was not thought after.that, statement that- the alteration would be made. In tho past tho Main Trunk connection was as good as could be expected,: but now thero. is a wait of three hours in Palmerston North coming down.from Aucklnnd, and on the up journey there"is a wait of 2J hours. -, : . , ; Mr. E. D. D. MT-ean thought tho country which- paid for the railways should be-con-sidered, ■'■■•■ .-■■'. "",.,. , ■'\,' ■~. . A motion to forward petitions to the Minister was strongly endorsed : and carried unanimously. '• ■• ;:: '■'"'.■" ' -::.:■•'■ .-;..> .■'■ • :