TRAIN SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 123, 27 May 1933, Page 5

TRAIN SERVICE

UPPER HUTT DISCONTENT

DEPUTATION FORMED

Improvements to the railway and bus services between Upper Hutt and Wellington—always a subject for suggestions by Upper Hutt residents — were discussed by the Upper Hutt Borough Council last night, when Councillor W. Fortune moved that a doputation be formed, consisting of such members of the Borough Council and such private individuals as may be thought necessary, to wait on tho Railways Department and/or the Minister of Railways without delay in an endeavour to obtain more efficient railway and bus services between Upper Hutt and Wellington. The motion was carried without dissent. Councillor Fortune expressed his conviction that something could be done to better the existing services. In his opinion the only way to get anything from tho Government or a Government Department was by constant and persistent hammering, and for that reason he suggested the deputation. Councillor G. H. Guthrie agreed that it was time something was done to accelerate the train service between Upper. Hutt and Wellington. He said that most of the delay on the journey occurred between Lower Hutt and Wellington. Pointing out that on some trips there were not enough passengers to pay for the coal used, Councillor A. Howell said that uuless people would patronise the railways they had not much chance of getting i. better service. Most of the tradespeople used cars and the mover of the- motion used a car more than the train. "That's because of the inefficiency of the train service," replied Councillor Fortune. Councillor Howell went on to say that he himself had used the train only once in eleven years "You're guilty, then," interjected Councillor Guthrie. An anomaly remarked upon by Councillor Howell was that the railway buses ran at approximately the same times as the trains did, instead of iv between the trains. Councillor Fortune said lie was convinced that a number of people would come to live- in Upper Hutt if tho train service were adequate, and he enumerated the several benefits that would result from an improved service. Councillor W. Greig said that the running time between Upper Hutt and Wellington had been lowered by only two minutes in the last ten years. "We should try for a reduction in the price of workers' tickets," said Councillor E. W. Cottle. "We're out for everything wo can get," replied Councillor Fortune. The Mayor (Mr. A. J. McCurdy) and Councillors Fortune, Guthrie, Greig, and J. Purvis were appointed to represent the council on the deputation.