RAILWAY MATTERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 139, 11 December 1908, Page 8

RAILWAY MATTERS.

HOW FARE THE FARES? ON TITI MANAWATU. PASSENGERS AND GOODS. Repeatedly it has been mentioned that the Government .schedule of rates would apply to the Manawatu line, when it was taken over by tha State, and that the new management would need time to gets its bearings before , it could lend favourable ears to all tho folk seeking concessions. However, various correspondent are pointing to the differences in the i«atc3 charged on the Hutt and Manawatu suburban sections "If tbo Railway Department has taken the trouble to raise the ireights on goods," it is asked, "why does it not take the trouble to 'square' the charges on tho Manawatu Government line with those on the other ' Government line?" One complainant points to discrepancies in 'the return fares (fiist and second) thus: — "3 miles— Wellington-Kaiwarra, 8d and 5d ; Wellington-Crofton, 9d and 6d. 5 mile.« — Ngahuranga, Is and 8d ; Khandallah, Is 3d and lOd. 11 miles — Melling Settlement, 2s and Is 3dj Tawa Flat, 3s and 2s. 13 miles— Gossc's Siding, 2s 3d and Is sd ; Porirua, 3s 6d and 2s 4d. 18 miles ~Silverstream, 2s 9d and Is 8d ; Plirnmerton, 4s 8d and 3s 2d" and so on. It is submitted for the department that' when it started to work the Manawatu line it did bo in accordance with Government schedules. The company's passenger rates were maintained, for the present, without change, because they tallied with the Government schedule, and the freight rates were raised because they -had been below the State standards, which apply to all the public lines. WEEK-END SERVICE TO-MORROW. To-morrow the department will establish a week-end service to stations as far as Paekakariki. The charge for return tickets, which will entitle the users to travel back on Sunday cr Monday, will be :• Wellington to Tawa and Porirua (and vice-versa), 2s (first) and Is 6d (second) ; Plimmerton and Paremata, 2s 6d and Is 6d ; Paekakariki, 3s 6d and 2s 3d. On Sunday a train will go loWaikauae and ptaki. . Passengers may 'return on' Sunday or* Monday, or tickets issued at 6s 2d and 3s Id for the WellingtonWaikanac trip, and 7s lOd and 3s lid for Otaki.' !' THE SUBURBAN AREA. It is not intended just now to extend the Manawatu suburban area beyond Johnsonville. It is contended by the department that the conditions of settlement and other circumstances for sta T tions further up the line are not on a par with those for the Hutt Valley, and therefore do not warrant the granting of similar rates just now. The suburban rates will come into force after 3rd January, thus : Wellington to Crofton (and vice-versa), return fares, 8d (first) and 5d (second) ; Khandallah, Is and 8d ; Johnsonville, Is 4d and lid. The Wednesday trains, at cheau fares, will not be run for the present.