RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 15 April 1911, Page 9

RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir,— The other day, while waiting for '"it ■foam -at Morrinsville' Junction (on the Rotorua line) 1 was somewhat amused to read the following notice placed in a prominent position on the station platform : — • "NOTICE. "March, 1895. "Enquires or complaints" about railway working or railway business of any kind should be made in writing and addressed to the District Traffic Manager, or to the stationmaster, who will forward them to the proper quarter. "By Authority. "SAMUEL COSTALL, "Government Printer, Wellington." The date of the notice is rather antiquated. In other reepects as well the Railway Department is equally behind the times. At Te Aroha the station arrangements are bad, and call for immediate attention. For instance, I arrived there on Tuesday last by tho 6.15 p.m. train from the north, and went to leave my luggage j }n the parcels office, as I was proceeding on by tho 8.25 for Frankton Junction. I was told I could not leave my luggago, as the office would not be open when, that train left. No alternative, I had to carry it about for over two hours. When I again reached the station, at 8.20, it i was in semi-darkness, only one light burning in the centre, and that very dimly— just flickering, in fact — consequently, the train, from Paeroa (tlftrteen miles further )*>rth) according to tho railway time-table timed to leavo Te Aroha at 8.25, arrived in' almost complete darkness at 8.32, and left at 8.49 (twentyfour minutes behind time-table). The station being shut up, there was no official to signal to the engine-driver that all was safe. Another thing : On this train no accommodation is provided for first-class passengers; only a second-class double compartment carriage, minus a lavatory, and minus a smoker. From Paeroa to Frankton is a distance of forty-three miles. Can you tell me if the dopartment refunds to travellers on this train who hold first-class tickets, tho difference in fare? And can you tell me, sir, why a first-class carriage is not provided? And can you also tell ms the approximate loss_ in revenue_ through this omission V Now, this train is much used by tourißts, commercial travellers, and others, as it connects at Frankton with the Auckland and Wellington express trains. You will agree that this is a state of affairs which has no right to exist iv model New Zealand. The safety and the comfort of the travelling public should be provided for in all trains. By-the-bye, this particular train, from Paeroa to Frankton arrived at Waihou, a distance of tivo miles from Te Aroha, twelve minutes after leaving that station; in addition, a Wel- : lington traveller was obliged to fat ay in ! To Aroha that night oil account of hia i baggage being locked up. Should any 1 of your readers ever have the misfortune to miss this particular train, then 1 advise them to hurry on. — I am, etc., TRAVELLER. | Wellington, 10th April, 1911.