HOLIDAY TRAFFIC

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 156, 30 December 1944, Page 9

HOLIDAY TRAFFIC

SHORT CAR JOURNEYS

AIR TRAVEL POPULAR While the exodus of motorists from Wellington over the Christmas- holidays was not by any means a's heavy as in pre-war years, many moiorists took advantage of the opportunity by using their increased petrol allocations for December and January, and what they had been able to save of their coupons, to leave the city. Parapar aumu, Waikanae, and Otaki were the most popular destinations for local motorists. The great majority travelled short distances only. Exceptionally busy traffic was reported by the railways and buses, the ferry service records will probably exced those of last Christmas, and air lines were equally well patronised. As Christmas Day fell on a Monday this year, stated officials of the Wellington Automobile Association, the disposal of traffic on the roads was more widespread than usual, and, apart from a few minor mishaps, motoring was relatively free from accidents. Many motorists left Wellington on Friday evening, others on Saturday, and the remainder on Sunday. Consequently, there was no congestion on any of the roads over the period in the Wellington district. This factor, it was pointed out, was an advantage in keeping down the number of possible accidents. Motor camps on the West Coast were particularly well patronised, many intending travellers having taken the precaution to book ahead well before the holidays in order to assure accommodationr Bookings for the inter-island ferry service hnve been consistently heavy. It would seem, however, that it will from now on be heavier in traffic from Lyttelton, as many travellers are anxious to return from the South Island early, in the new year. Bookings from Wellington to the south are now lighter. > Passages by air between Wellington and Auckland have, been heavy both ways. It was stated today that there would be no seats available for Auckland from Wellington until February. Every air service has been well patronised over the holidays,, especially that to the South Island, and many travellers have booked to return from there when the holidays are over. The situation, as far as bookings to the south from Wellington are concerned, has eased somewhat of late. HAWKE'S BAY POPULAR. Hawke's Bay has been exceedingly popular'this season with those holidaymakers who travelled by train. As usual, the Auckland route was the destination for the majority of travellers, no fewer than 6617 of the 12,264 passengers who left Wellington by express trains: between December 21 and December 26, inclusive, . having booked for stati6ns on the Main Trunk line. Of that number, 2269 left Wellington in six express trains on Friday last, December 22. By trains gomg north by the same route, more than 1200 people were carried both on the Thursday and Saturday prior to Christmas Day. On the Hawke's Bay route the lUßviest traffic recorded was oh Saturday. Expresses carried 1132 that day. The total for the six days under review \v,as '3298. Some 2349 passengers were' carried to Taranaki during the period. The highest number recorded was 822 on Saturday. Generally speaking; the trains were comfortably filled. But those travellers who had not' taken the precaution of reserving their seats at times made conditions uncomfortable for themselves and others, particularly after the trains had left Palmerston North. More than 100 passengers were reported as standing on the« Main Trunk trains on occasion. The same conditions prevailed on the expresses to Hawke's Bay. One train carried nearly 200 standing passengers. Records are not available as to the i number of people who arrived in Wei-! lington by train over the holidays. It! is believed, however, that consider-1 ably more people left the city. Suburban services,. both, by train and bus, were well patrbnised^ ' '