TRAIN ACCOMMODATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1045, 7 February 1911, Page 6

TRAIN ACCOMMODATION.

Sir,—For the last three weeks I hnvo been constantly travelling on the railways in this island, and am quite satisfied that the liailway Department do not cater for the travelling public in the way one may reasonably expect. On several occasions I liavo known holders of firstclass tickets obliged to travel in secondclass carriages owing to insufficient room in the iirst-class. To-dav (Saturday) I, with a number of others, was at the Thermion railway station at least five minutes heforo the timo to start, but could not get a scat in a first-class car. At I'aekakariki the stationmaster was asked it any iirst-class cars would bo put on, but was told none were available. Ac Fnlmerston North the stationmaster was asked if any first-class cars were to bo put on, and wo were informed that a number of people were getting out (nc-

thing said about the number getting on). In the second-class carriago in which I myself camo three persons held first-class ' tickets, for which six pounds each were 1 paid, and two ordinary firsts. This is not right, and the Department plays this (jatno practically every day. I am certain of theso statements, as there were five persons in one carriage holding firstclass tickets, obliged to travel secondclass. As one of many of the travelling public I protest against treatment of this kind, when a first-class car could easily have been put on. The guard in charge of the' train in (;uestion can endorse what is stated above re the inadequate accommodation. Thanking your sir.—l am, etc., TRAVELLER, '