RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 148, 26 June 1925, Page 9

RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS

QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT.

Keen interest in the railway system was shown by members of the House of Representatives during question time' yesterday afternoon. Many inquiries were made for improvements in services. Mr. G. Witty (Hiccarton) wishes to have definite information'from the Minister of Railways as to when the duplication 'and electrification of the Lyttelton- tunnel will be commenced. < As an additional safety precaution on trains which have been speeded up, Mr. W. A. Yeitch (Wanganui) gave notice that he intends' to ask the Minister if he will have the most efficient high speed appliances attached to the Westinghouse brakes The advisability of the Department collecting arid delivering passengers' luggage was tho subject of a question to be asked by Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata), who referred to the system in force in the _ United Kingdom. His desire, he indicated, was to popularise the railways still further Mr. J. O'Brien (Westland) will ssk the Minister why it is that second-olass tourist tickets cannot be provided on the railways at reduced rates. He pointed out that at the present time only firstclass passengers were provided for in respect to tourist tickets. Mr. G. Forbes (Hurunui) gave notice of his intention to ask the Minister of: Publi^Works whether his attention had been dfawn to a very valuable report of the Canterbury Progress League on the completion of the South Island Main Trunk railway, and. if so, whether he would give the matter serious consideration in the framing of the Estimates this year. (Laughter.) 1 Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranaki) wishes to know whethor the Minister of Railways 1 has received a request from the Taranaki I Chamber of Commerce for consideration ' to be given to the inauguration of night expresses between Taranaki and Wellington. Mr. Smith stressed the convenience of such a service to the travelling public. Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki) showed interest in the same matter in a question of which he gave notice, and in which he included a reference to a night service from Napier.