"HUGE BLUNDER,"

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 951, 19 October 1910, Page 8

"HUGE BLUNDER."

>; / theV railway time-tables. v \ ScpsiiY ;a«d :j.\ ';■■: :;v> an inquiry/wanted. i:;' Severe/sfribtures were made : inv.the ;v-vvHouse/ ; ;of :j' : 'Representatives yesterday. ; :■ -/.with: reference to the ■'new time-tabtes .' : .. for ihe;Wairarapa and Manawatu lines, ■?..■/■ the occasion being the; presentation, of / : 'the railways classincatiori/list.; .... /'.: ././'■ ■ '■' -In bringirig up the matter, Mr. Rose, ;''/ ; /;lM:E.'.fp'r;"Paiiatua, said that.tho hew', ■;-;'...Wairarapastrain service-was;both: costly :.;->- and. It made necessary of goods. specials between . V ytfastertbii -and Woodrilie.:) Taking .the: "'./ year, all-round the number"of these spe- '.■>," edals : averaged four days The y". : . itbtal 'annual 'special train; mileage 'was ; ;.:|f ;Bow-' 15,540::niilesj whilst: under the 61d : ; train/mileago: was only, was .the new ;,;/'service opposed -to the interests of those :' ; iv : it : ;. was/ supposed ;■ to: servej : Kut" ■ it. was • ' i; erasensical)/ From lie figures'.he/would. ;;: .//giveJhe/wpuld eliminate/ the ("wild cat," : /,'./aJso:. the/ 2.20 ;p!m.-mixed-train .from Sy : : WoodvJlle/tb/Cross- Creek : and : the/ 8.30, '.NaJii.: mixed from , ' Cross : Creek"tb ■-:;/■, .WoMvilie". The old time-table ■•;/ 'an., annual, train, mileage :in, the.-.Oross .'/ ;i :&eGk-Woodville district-at, a cost/ of ■:./'£49,201V ; : The presentv^unsatisfactory.; ■ c/,:Bervice,shbwever,; gave•■ an 'annual ;traini "i/'.mileage'iof ', 201,880 /railes.at//a cost-'of; /y:i£55,017;-/'lt;wpuld "(thus : .be>seen that; '//.^there'-was , aniincrease.-'of 122,966: train. ;>-•:.-' miles ■ at/an/ increased cost .of £6316 :;7. : amum/ : .(against : 'the.old. service ..tnat ;•.■;'■/:'gOTβ; , cene»l-Miirf^ion; , ;'/ Baid/-tSat"his. cbmpari6ori;was.' : not a-.f air, i./'": one,; ■ inasmuch as .special! goods services. /;>; haid .to' : Be~. run .the old time-table j ;/>.as" well : as.under, ■the.-, new/service; In ■;:/' ; ;nb';;'fixedvrun under. :r-'f<3l6 -'old-: ;as-;under the.', new : :/;;6ervice."/He had; hot.included the Cross. ~-,"' Cre'eJt-Wellington' section, but ■.he.'-' was ■ V;. .prepared 'to deal "with -.'that; matter'- on. 1 v-ls':'^its'./pr,i : ,' A was- persisting /in i'niaintaining ;'a /v//table K thit nostnls/9f:^eyef3: : ; ;■';,train userjand wasy'.as.he : had;said;'cbstmg:ii&iy ; country /£6316/irn^re : :/tban '•; ~ a., time-table "ifet;/ gave / general -satisfac-: '.'. - JtipnJ/-:In.; sprie .of ;the. claims' of economy. ;,/|- oh 'railway administration, ;if'such losses; ■:"/'as:he; i had shbifn'j)ver"/78 Ailes'of'/rail-' hi-: : existed,.'was"'it;not/reasonable; ; .to; '''■'.■<■■■ cphclude- that:':similar ' :'■ mismajia'gementj ://eitended'bversthe .whole: of ;ttie>railway ; *^V;V-.>l : -?;"i/^V.-r : w^-:^-- ::^.''V.-':--': "-;'=>ij, : i';." W&: r What/the':W IV' /■' As tie Depa'rtmeirfc3l. officers' 'appear-. - 'compiling:"V:./e itime'-table for the/ Wairarapa .with due. .•:•/;regard/.tt^ecbnbnvy.;and suitabpity,,■Kβ,] ? ; ;-/(Mri/Ross) /would: suggest; pne. ; tb - J.neni ?'<}:■■ ;/ '. /-Bome/years .t6'. coiiie. and involve only an )//: 197- miles -per week; bv' ; /i'VrtEnnin'g a train;- between.,Mastertbn' , ,and: / iWopdvSle fsk days,.per,;Week-' insiead : of ;'■:-•iota /days, per;;week as.,-at/.present'. : /.His'; >"%■'y'\-\ ,'::■'. ' //:/: //'^ : ?v:."TOkevtt'- : -'Palmerstpn- v snbijld-::.leaye.'-'JJftn-' ' : //:iievirk'e.' at .8.15/a.in^/:W f Obdvill« depart, Z ; ; 19:40 :aiin.rPalm'erstori(arrive 10:5 a avm;.'; ■■■': . ? ?C(3),?/A/ train ./ /6.30/ a.mv ,-the: present/npii-; '■"• paying .■train. , ' ;.Creek/ rat: ■: ./5.25 a.m. ), arrive Wpodville about; 9.25 .0//- , .'a'.M^)Vconn€o^ing7.\^h-''i-.the';P i alnier ; c '/ ; ,"abortive/time-table ;'V; : ://•/;/:///;//,/:

(3) A leave Cross Creek' t for Woodville at about 7 a.m., arrive Woodvillo 12.45, connecting with the NapieT and Auckland mail trains. (4) The' 7.45 a.mi Wellington-Wood-vilk train as at present. (5) The other Cross Cfeek-Hasterton-iWoodvillc trains as at present. ,

(6) The present 8.J5 WoodviUe-Mas-t ierton train, by leaving an hour earlier, ,- and arriving at Masterton at 10.20 a.'m., would meet in some measure the needs , of children attending the Masterton seo 2 ondary and technical schools, and would not inconvenience anyone. ' (7) A train to leavo Woodville for Cross Creek about 2.30 p.m., connecting with the . Wellington-Napier and down Auckland for Wairarapa passengers, and to meet the large and growing traffic in regard to perishable goods of Hawke's Bay by the 1.45

:;Vp;m'.;';.-, : ' : .;'/ ; : ■. ' ■3:- : .'-:. -y-'X) ":'i,-:;.(B)..;Jii>the..foregoing .scheme ajl:trams' ■•', .not:.mentioned:;, shoiUdp 1 - remain-,as '. 'at :;. 'presentJ^CV:':^-'?'"/-^'-^'"'^,;.^;/"^^ , ; '-■' S.;W(9) ; .■? ton xpuld: rnn; asf : a,vniofori.train, , light ; ;;.and -inexpensive, {and"foiva l jtrifling'•.ad? Woodville ■:K :Masterton; and•Jback/i.sayV'. Woodville :, depart ,9.50. a.ih; - ,. connecting, with '-Dan-'. ;;;iievirke.train,; Masfcrton\.:iarriyei.. say,- • / \lilo; : p^ : .;vMasteftbn\;'de'pajftj ;, ■■"Ba.yf-.--i /rp.rn;;v;Woodyilleiarnyeipsay, 6:20, con-;v:nechng,^with\-I)annevirkekan'd;: PalmerjiStottVNorth trains;/ ■ Masterton arrive: iVsay,-I.lo;p:ni.,vMasterton depart,'say, 4 AjP-%; Woodville /arrive, say, 6.20, con- =... necting with Dannevirke and : Palmer- .:. ■ ston •North- trains, and take up '.'its run- 1 , ;/ magmas,: the. : present:-6,so,:piin.'-: train. -7 ' : --'v^ : v- orkln 'g:#e' Rimutaka': Incline ..,nad;been;.put forward."as an excuse,for ;; •ojyertjng the Wairarapa-traffic over; the .^anawatu_lme.-^:vYet'he'was prepared ...factfthat the cost'per ton to-Say under ; .; a.restncted- time-table was T greater -than !>dunn£lftW*.:when-the,equipment wS ..-.working Jull against .tW'pfe- : ::: :Bent::;policy of-Porting;the'' staff and' :,, engines;-for-:6nly::.three-;or four -trips . daily,- which entailed the" same supervi- ■■ ; : Manawatu. for .Woodville-Eketahuna, an.average distanceoflie.-miles,. as against :;101.via : Rimutaka.:;At theratelf one penny per ton'per additional mUe, : the < '/diverted traffic of;; 1500: tons por dav '■■':■■**?■ ■- over.. £100; y additioW: per ■; .day. This;; amount.: would ' a long ;,;W.ay,.if not;completely ■. meet;the' cost of '.: the Inline engines and staff at ■■yfuJJtreasonable .work, ,and-.at the same ' t' me :S lv P., a-" reasonable service ■ to ' the . Wairarapa settlers', instead of starving one'district: arid glutting another with ': congested traffic. ■ ■Hβ could not con- : elude withoutcasually remarking on the ■i extravagant time-table' now in' existence ,: von the Manawatu .between-Palmerston jNorth and Wellington.. Here, he °o n .W '.arrange ■'-.■a'' suitable .time-table, , which effect a saving of £600 d ' to £7000. per year.. ;The running of the Napier and New Plymouth mails as separate trains between Palmerston and ■'■: Wellington .was. not .justified by the ' .traffic, : The trains could be knocked into one,; and then;not;be'.a largo Strain. He. thought he had said : quite enough to warrant the Minister, in, holtling a ~ searching inquiry into "how time-tables »re; made. in'; New Zealand," and who makes.'■ them. The Minister woiild be justified in getting an outside expert .to go into .the whole'matter.. In-the old days the time-tables were framed : withotrt the officials of €he district ; concerned being consulted, and he was . told it was bef.oining, worse: and worse. They were; told norv that'. they were '■>: gottinß management'ef the railways by one official only., J. That should ,not be allowed to' continue.; ' The railways ; should be run in the interests of the whole of the people./ Although he had' ;6erved in. the! Department'for twenty-

years,'lie felt that hie was only justified infringing up the matter. Universal Discontent. Mr. Hogg (Mastertbn) said that as , a result of the present service there was universal complaint .all along tho line. ;Evpry,where he was /told, that, things wore worse -now than they- were twenty y.ea'rs ago: This was not onjy the case in regard, to the Wairarapa line. , There oou'ld -be no doubt but that a. huge blunder had been made.in diverting tho Wellington-Napier express to tho Manawatu line./ There was some evil genius who .. was responsible for the drafting of/the time4abl6s. , If he could bo discovered, his effigy would bo burnt in ■all the townships along the Wairarapa and Mnnawatu lines. One. of the great defects in', regard' to the new service .was' that the ■ children could not attend school,at the'-regular hours. If the Minister would take the views ,of the people who travelled along--either the Wairarapa or Manawatu, he.' ; would find 'that there was universal discontent. Instead, of listening to chambers of commerce, the: Minister should travel along the jlijie himself.' It ,was an abominable time-table./■■: ' ;.•■-, - Mr. Buchanan .(Wairarapa) said that, h'e' had •' been attempting to get _,the time-table remedied for. a long time. All; that he wanted, was common-sense attention to ■ the wants of his district. He agreed that the position of, affairs as regards Hhe Manawa'tu servieo was also unsatisfactory.-. For himself; he 'did'not'know: that only one official was responsible for -the time-tables. Whoever. : were so responsible, should /be brought to , bqpkv/ihe.railways had not been built to be the "playthings of the officials.. As a result of the new service Hasterton people who wished to do j business, in were hampered. He.was surprised "that the .Postal Der 1 riartment was hoty consulted when the time-table was',, being : carried :out. Nothing ■ was known, by'the Department as-to the .proposed .-alterations until. they were, announced;. The train which left Wellington at 4.45. a.m. should be , reinstated.'.' 'Under'. thetpresent service ■ Masterton'was. not; reached until mid-, day,■ -aid Masterton - people',-could : not reach Wellington before the , same hour. He wanted:;fair play.-, for.. what .had proved/a' satisfactory, line.-..; .-. ■: -.- / If Justice Had Been Done. \: '.'! If -justice', had teen, done the- Wairarapa, 'the line would,have been deviated at a cost of something , over. £300,000; and it;; would' have,: paid V. handsomely.' The!-Minister-.should;inquire /into 'the matter , for/himself: ~■■,'■,>' '"■•': '•■■■.■ --■ ■■'■ ':!•: -Mr.;. Field,. (Ott-ki); said. that; in maay ■waysyiW. Manawatu^service had beenimproved since the;,\ Goyenunent',:. took over. the.line;. .He considered.that the .running, of the Wellington-Napier mail over, the Manawatu. was. a. distinct improvement: As' regards .the time-table; however,-there■'was room for, consider'able';complaints..' One of ;the. needs/ of thej line .was , the ,; extension. of ■; the' suburban .service, r; He J. would admit that the! population at present might not warrant, the;■ concession.;- If;there.' were a.i: better..' service, however;, "• settlement .would 'be.encouraged;-A Even, if the. area ;wer9: nbt'-to be'i.extended,,;, there ...was s'till|''rc<im : for improvenieritCi' He' would a^:.ut'that:there, ; ;virere. Sufficient grains onfthe-Manawatu line, .but -they..did not run at/convenient'•intervals. /;. .■■■-,-.

■ '■' The ; -Prime , Ministerfat■;' this : : stage ;raised a point of order,:to., the ''effect, that /there could .not- , ' be, an ; .'all-round discussion on 'tfie administration .'of, the, -railways':on- the"dcicunKnt which' it was. 'proposed- to: lay."on the : table. 1 ; '■'..■ ■; ' ■■•.. ;' .v.Mrc Speaker pointed, out that, it'was 'contended ".that-: the vli'st:.- included the namest of' officials; : whose •' services' should: 'iff* dispenjsed ; ; ifitli > on' ; th^' grcinnd';.that they ,w«re allegedly .'■.miemanaging... the railways;/;■/' /.^/■■. 7 :'■■}<'/;': -'■■•■ v :'\- , ' : - : rvMr.: Field, .in i conclusion, further, 'urged, a'Jb'etter .service'.'in I ;his..district.. «,.;■:• by the Hon; J. A. yWilllar.; : : t|:!ThevHon:f :&aid' that he; •wduldifoave a'-look:at jthe; time-table sub--1 mitted by Mr. Ross. •• As knew, - Mr.. Ross had' had' considerable: railway 'experience. •..iThe, ;^^ Department 'intended: ■ to)go- intci ■• the.'question,of 'tie i-apa time-table, as: 'soonv as : tho session •was:concluded.i. It was' intended to do away.:with;i3ie train, which; wen* through from .the , Wairarapa. ,te v vPalmerstoii North-and back. If-Pahiatua and Masf terton; wereexpepted 'there -was;'hardly, a: static-h in"- the district wWot would, Mr:. Ross was. wrong, ■irf'stating that hauling;cost' more'.over, ■.tWe'Mariawatu.line.tihan via .the RimuUmder;■'. tbe : new;, ; : timetable 'a saving of £14,000' per. annum was made. When Mt. :Ross\took ;: .out. his. figures he based.the , ■w'hole ; : , teaffic'as' if.- it .went further than', jwas,. "the; , actual case. Neither Mr: Ross'.hor anyoiie else ; could show it would psiy to : take traffic over, the Stnnmit if it could be taken.' via ihe ManfJrWatu.i'-lßdeed, it .would pay. 'to":take 'traffic' 10;. miles,further, via the ' v^;;>;'- ; ". ; '- ; ' ■ \vi''^:/;'■;• . j;:Mr.- Ross: : The:grades are. pretty ..had on-the Maniwatu..:,::■■.' ••}:■•;■:'-■' : ■■'■''.'■ ■'■•..'. 'i.i.Continxiing,-.-Mr. Millar,, said that : . it r mjght hajipen that some';meinbeTS migKt have , 'seeii' a 'train' runiiing half•'empty bow and; again.' Asia,-.matter.;of fact; the return for, the past, four weeks was £28,00,0 r above, the four', weeks;.for the : corresponding period;, of last year.; As-, regarcfe the, complaint. that; people ;in : WairaTapa I and" Manawat'u. districts did' not get, sufficient: time in Welmrgion hai'might 'point'out/that only, up tea certain distance could people get ■a/service. Which-would give, them any length.: of .time: in'. Wellington.' If the expresses were, made to stop , atj more places 'what time ; would-.people, who ,-lived : at" a.distance from: the , stations in: the '. Taranaki'^district,: reach"; their homes ? He noticed , also \ that Mr." Buchanan' wanted te see the .4.45 a.m. wild cat from Wellington reinstated. It would not' pay te run the train simply for mails and newspapers. ..:. . Mt., Buchanan: -And' goods..;. . .• Mr.- -Millarwadded that.if there had heen ' any .'necessity for the .train to be run for/goods' it -would'have been run all'tHe time!' Tho whole question : would he. dealt .with in the' recess.