OUR RAILWAYS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 774, 24 March 1910, Page 9

OUR RAILWAYS.

HOW PASSENGERS ARE TREATED.

(By Tcleßraph.-Spcci»rCorresnondcnt)' ■ ~, Auckland, March 23. Writing- on "Things in General" in the Auckland "Herald" a special writer.waxes facetious regarding the New; Zealand railways. -He says: "Arecent example . of ; how passengers are treated :hanpen«l. on St. Patrick's Day Large .numbers- of-people up, the lino trom: Auckland to the Ngaruawahia regatta. It ;must have been known to I the authorities that the'traffic would IT 7, -f tli ey . thoughtfully nrovjded for !t. Several.trucks which could have been profitably employed in the; convenience of freight and coal, and which frequently carry cattle were ncted.up as passenger ears. In these crowds of excursionists made the journey, nothing extra being charged for the + generous doses of.sinoke swallowed in tho Parnell Tunnol, no additional fee being asked for the unusually luxurious accommodation. provided. Several ladies , unable to find seats % tho' second-class carriages on the train, invaded a first-class coach. On the guard demanding their exodus they refused to go unless ho found them aecommbdsuion, m a second-class'carriage,., nor would they pay ths diffe-ronco in faro demanded.,, And this is the " nuichvauiited railway system of tho .Dominion! This i& tho system that the Minister for. Railways says ho is. dctormined to make , a payable one, these being his methods of doing it I What a .SSL'* a lt iS [ m ? iMdSato rolling stock farmers, coal-mine owners, and shippers of ttX )ol and produce arc starved for the means of conveyance up or down the lino or to the port; passengers ar« hustled into cattle trucks, whenever they want' to travel in. largo numbers; fares arc raked, useful trams are abolished, suburban sernces are run at inconvenient .hours stations are provided for Auckland and other centres that would bo a disgrace to back-block towns. And yet. the Hon. Mr. Millar serenely says that the railways must be mado to pay. I wish lie