HOKITIKA TRAINS

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 August 1923, Page 7

HOKITIKA TRAINS

OBJECTIONS TO NEW SERVICE. (Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA, August 11. A round-the-table talk with Mr J. L. Morgan (Traffic Manager) and members of local bodies and others on the matter of train service took place at tlie Town Hail yesterday afternoon. The Mayor (Mr G. Perry) explained that the conference was held to obtain if possible a more suitable time-table. Mr T. Irvine (Rector of the High. School) pointed out the unsuitability of the Ross train service to pupils wishing to attend the Hokitika District High School. Although the railways were not run for the schools, they could be run to serve the school children a little better. Education cannot be measured in £ s.d., and the loss to promising pupils of a high school education was a serious loss to the country. Nir Morgan said the Department was in receipt of a letter from the Ross Borough Council stating that with the exception of the Monday morning train the service was acceptable and a trial should be given it. The Mayor said that the next question was a through train from Christchurch, as objection is taken to the changing of trains at Greymouth; also requesting that the speed might be accelerated from Greymouth to Hokitika. The Traffic Manager explained that very little time could be saved on the express train to Greymouth, and there were not the facilities at Hokitika yet for the express train. He mentioned that on Tuesday last when 170 went by the express to Christchurch, only 24 came from Hokitika. There were a lot of factors to be considered in running the trains. On the Grey-Hoki-tika line there were' thirteen stoppings, each taking three minutes, making 39 minutes. With so many stoppages it was impossible to acquire the maximum speed ; also the school children had to be considered. Messrs Perham and Coulson advocated the through service, and said the inadequate service was driving people to the motor-cars. •Mr D. J. Evans said the service was far short of what had been promised by Mr McVilly, and was like adding injury to injustice. Messrs Shannon, Mackay, Wild, A. King and Mrs Butler also advocated even to sending a portion of the express train to Hokitika. Mr Armstrong (Mayor of Akaroa) instanced the inconvenience of elderly people transhipping at Greymouth, and Mr Shannon stated a case of lost luggage through the same thing. Mr Jeffries: Which is to be the terminus, Greymouth or Hokitika? If it is to be Greymouth, then we know where we stand. Fifteen years ago the time between Greymouth and Hokitika was live minutes less than now. Mr Morgan said that at present Greymouth was the terminus of the overland express. It was not possible to run a through service at present owing to the condition of the Hokitika station. Mr Jeffries said then the people south of Greymouth have been grossly misled, because it was said that Hokitika was to be the terminus. Mr Morgan said the matter would be gone into thoroughly from every point of view, as all the users of the train have to be considered. On the motion of Dr Teichelinann, a vote of thanks was carried by acclamation to Mr Morgan for coming to Hokitika and hearing the protests.