TELEGRAMS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 75, 31 March 1910, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

MISCONDUCT ON TRAINS. 'A LETTER FROM THE MINISTER. LACK OF COOPERATION. l»T TELEOBAPH— SPECIAL TO TH« POST.I CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. A resident of Ashburtou some time *go wrote to the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister of Railways, in regard to drunkenness on trains. The Minister, befjis leaving for Australia. <vr«*ie the following letter in reply:— 'With reference to your representations regarding the reported drunkenness and misconduct in railway trains by passengers, when under the influence of liquor, I have the honour to inform you that the matter has been very exhaustively enquired into, and from the reports, I gather that although some of the pascennn had liquor with them ill the cars, none of the guards saw anyone the worse of liquor, nor did they hear any remarks to which exception could be taken. A great difficulty in connection with these cases lies in the fact that passengers are very reluctant to give evidence against their fellow passengers, even in cases where there may be grounds for complaint, and it has frequently been found when the Railway Department has taken action that the offenders escape punishment owing to the lack of evidence and support, given to the department by persons riding in tho same car, who could not but be aware of the misconduct. You will readily understand that in such cases the ia*ihvay authorities have a very difficult and thankless task. They are, however, desirous of stopping, drinking or anything approaching misconduct m the trains, and if passengers who are riding in the carriages where such misconduct occurs would complain to the guard, at the same time indicating the person or persons who were creating the disturbance, or annoying them, and then come forward and give evidence in support of the charges laid by the department, action would be taken, and, no doubt, sustained in many cases. I can assure you that, personally, I am very desirous of preventing anything that may give offence to passengers travelling by train. The railway staff has strict injunctions on the point, and if the members of the travelling public would assist in the direction I have indicated, there is no doubt whatever that auy misconduct that might occur would very quickly be stamped out."