RAILWAYS AND RACES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3133, 11 July 1917, Page 6

RAILWAYS AND RACES

MR. EILIOT REPLIES TO KACIKG CLUB. Mr. E. H. Hiley, General Manager of Railways, writes:-"! have seen the letter from the secretary of the "Wellington Racing Club in this morning's newspapers, and can only express extreme surprise at the shortness of the memorV ot the secretary of the club. I will not comment on the tone of the communication.

"It is only three days ago that Mr. AVhyte made the following requests to me over the telephone in regard to the train service for the races:—

"(1) That the 8.30 a.m. train should be made up to the full capacity of the engine with passenger cars. . This application was declined because the Department could not see its "way to exclude goods traffic for the Wairarapa from the train for three davs in the week. A promise was, however, given to put on eight or nine cars, thus doubling the accommodation of this particular train.

"(2) That the 9.55 a.m. train should be loaded up to the full capacity of one engine.

"This was acceded to, although it was pointed out to the Racing Club's secretary that care would require to be taken to avoid as far as possible taking out on the 9.55 a.m. and 8.30 a.m. trains combined more race traffic than could be brought back on the i.47 p.m. train from Trentham, the latter being the only return train available for racegoers. "(3) That the 2.55 p.m. train from Upper Hutt should be put back half an hour to suit the return racegoers. . "This application was declined, because not only would the times be incouvenient to the ordinary travelling public on the line, but also for the reason that as the 4.47 p.m. train from Trentham Cvbuld be fully loaded up with passenger traffic fro mtlie racecourse, the 2.55 p.m. train from the Upper Hutt would be actually the only afternoon train into Wellington available for non-racegoers for three days of this week between Upper Hutt and Wellington. "With regard to the troop trains, Mr. Whyte made the following applications: "(1) That the two Defence' Department's trains which bring soldiers on leave into Wellington from the camp should be re-timed on the outward journey from Wellington, so as to enable them lo reach Trentham in time for the races, and be utilised for racegoers, and un the return journey be re-timed so as to leave Trentham after the last race to bring racegoers home. "I called the attention of the secretary to the fact that as tho soldiers' leave trains from the camp were in the ordinary course fully loaded with troops his proposal to use these trains for racegoers must necessarily crowd the soldiers out, and therefore the application could not be considered.

"(2) That the 2.30 p.m. train Wellington to Trentham on Saturday for friends of soldiers in camp should be timed to leave AVellington' at noon and reach Trentham iu time for the rates, conveying racegoers.

"The present time of departure was fixed by the Department after consultation with tho Defence authorities for' the express purpose of providing a suitable' train to take the parents and friends of soldiers to camp. A start before luncheon would not suit tl\e circumstances of the friends and relatives of soldiers, who would in addition in all probability be crowded out on the return "journey by racegoers. For 'this reason tin's application was declined also."