SHOW STOCK TRAINS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1537, 5 September 1912, Page 8

SHOW STOCK TRAINS.

RECIPROCAL ENTRIES. ■' The idea' that was conceived by Mr. AV. T. Penny, secretary of the-Manawatu-and AVest- Coast A. and P. Association, at tho last spring show with regard to the question.' of special stock trains and reciprocal entries between the Auckland, A\'aikato, and Palmerston North districts, is stated to bo on a fair way to bearing good"fruit.'. Mr. Penny is at present in ■Auckland in furtherance of the proposal, which he has kept conslantlyin view during the past twelve months. In conversation with a "Star'-' representative, hestated that providing tho breeders would come forward, as was anticipated, the proposal would be mutually beneficial to Auckland and Palmerston North. He would like to make it clear, lie said, that the people of Palmerston North were not actuated altogether by selfish motives in their' desire for the inauguration of the proposal.' They recognised, of course, that they would benefit materially, but in return for support received they were enuallv ready to support Auckland and the AVaikato when their fixtures took place. As the result of a deputation which had waited on the former Minister for Railways, Mr. Myers, a promise had been received that a special show stock train would be put on for tho next spring show at Palmerston North, and in support of that he (Mr. -Penny)'had just received a letter from the General traffic Manager, setting forth the approximate times of the departure of the-train from the various railway stations between Auckland and Palmerston, which were as follow:—Auckland, depart 6 a.m.; Pukckohe,:B a.m.; Prankton, 12 noon; 1e Awanvutu,' T2.-10 p.m.; Te Kuiti, 2.25 p.m.; Taumarunui, 6.15 p.m.; Ohakune, 11.20 p.m.; Palmerston North, arrive.'6.3o a.m. Tho letter further went on to say that a car would.be attached for the attendants, and that as the train was an experimental one, a minimum number of wagons, say, equal to 21 wheeled vehicles, from To Kuiti and stations north thereof, .would 1)0 sufficient for this occasion. The chief cause of complaint in the past has been with Tegard to tho timo taken by the stock trains in covering the distance betweon the Auckland district and Palmerston North,-and the manner in which valuable stock were knocked about as the result of repeated shunting. This will now bo obviated to such an extent that the risk of damage on the jour-riey-which ' will only occupy. about twenty-four hours-will be practically nil, and breeders can be assured that, their stock will arrive at tho other end in good condition. ■ , n,.„„ Mr Penny intends to spond some three weeks in the' Auckland district, during which time ho will visit the various breeders who aro exhibitors at tho shows, ,with a view, to enlisting their support in this Very important movement, which has for its object the bringing into closer relationship tho associations and exhibitors of the northern and southern districts of tho North Island.