SUBURBAN TRAIN SERVICES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1431, 4 May 1912, Page 5

SUBURBAN TRAIN SERVICES.

HUTT VALLEY NEEDS, About forty people attended a public meeting at Lower Hutt last evening for tho purpose of forming a deputation to wait on tho Minister for Railways in regard to the time-tablo service of trains between Hutt and Wellington. Mr. E. P. Bunny occupied tho chair, and was supported by Mr. J. W. M'Ewan. After pointing out tho object of the meeting, the chairman invited discussion. Mr. Roots mentioned that ho would like to put tho case- for the workers. Since May 1 the early train had been run later, and this had caused inconvenience.. Moreover, after alteration, it had been found very difficult to connect with the north-bound- train from Thorndon. Mr. Poll. stated that ho would like tho deputation to point to tho prico of the fare. They all wanted the Hutt Valley to go ahead, and the way to do it was to insist on a reduction of the fares. He did not mean in respect to workers only, but in respect to the casual traveller. Several other speakers supported Mr. Poll's view. One speaker pointed out that if a man was wealthy enough to buy an annual ticket, for .£!),_ he was better off than the poor man, who could only afford a monthly ticket. Mr. Baldwin thought that a quicker service should be inaugurated. Some of the stations en route to Hutt should ba cut out, thereby saving lime. There was also need of amending the Sunday, train service. Mr. Natusch was of opinion that an up-to-date stntion should be erected at Mellings. The little shed new doing service was totally inadequate for the requirements of the increasing district, and the recent alterations were amusing. The Government had recently spent a lot of money on duplication, but the service was still slow. It was not fair that passengers from Mellings. Belmont, or Haywiirds should ba charged at the same rate as travellers from Upper Hutt. Ho agreed with previous speakers in regard to the penalty imposed upon peopio not in a position to buy an annual ticket, and ho suggested that tin's deputation should join hands with one from Upper Hutt. Mr. J. W. M'Ewan held that this was not a parochial affair—it was of interest to tho whole Vr.llcy. Potcne was very much interested. We were promised, said the speaker, "a fifteen-min-utes' service when the duplication was ready, but w'c have not got it yet. Wo were also promised a motor train service, These things should all bo brought before the Minister. Pelone is ready and willing to help." (Applause.) Mr. Birch submitted that it was unfair that workers who travelled between S a.m. and 9 a.m. had to pay double the faro that tho passenger who travelled before 8 a.m. paid. Mr. Bunny suggested that a committee should be elected, and that the most important of these various matters should bo brought before the, Aiinister. Ho thought that any promise made by, Mr. Myers would be given effect to. After further discussion, a committee was appointed to act in conjunction with these from Upper Hutt and Pefone. The joint-committee is to wait upon the Minister.