FIRELESS RAILWAY WAITINGROOM

Grey River Argus, 25 August 1948, Page 4

FIRELESS RAILWAY WAITINGROOM

. (To the Editor). Sir. —Please allow me space to mention deplorable conditions which women and children endure while waiting for the train at the Ikamatua railway station. For instance, on Saturday, August 21, passengers who travelled in the bus from Waiuta, left that township at 7.30 in the morning. The ladies and their children were confronted with a cold fireless wait-ing-ro(sm. One lady had a sick child, aged four months enroute to the Reefton' 1 Hospital, and another was accompanied by four young children. These passengers had to wait forty-five minutes for the Reef ton rail-car. I pro-' tested to a railway official about the absence of a fire. I was advised that tie had no coal, and that some ..had been ordered two months ago: I obi served that a fire was glowing in the office. I was advised that the ladies could if they wished, warm themselves at the office fire. It appears strange that Ikamatua cannot get coal. I understand that the same difficulty does not exist, at Stillwater. For many months these conditions have existed at Ikamatua. On many cold mornings in the months of May, June, July and August of this year there was no fire in the ladies’ waiting room. I know one lady from Waiuta who has constantly protested at the station, but she received little or no satisfaction. I was told on protesting that I was “dramatical,” but if by protesting against such treatment to women and young children is being dramatical, I giady plead guilty. Returning from Reefton to Waiuta on the 21st.. Waiuta passengers arrived at Ikamatua at approximately five in the evening and left there at halfpast seven, and, because there was no fire in the waiting-room, the women and children sat for two and a-half hours in the draughty bus. I feel confident that if Mr Williams, the timber contractor, had been aware of the true position, he would have delivered free of charge, sufficient wood to make such a long wait a little more tolerable for those ladies and their children. I trust that the conditions will be remedied immediately. I am etc ED. C. CHANDLER. Waiuta. August 22. (On this matter being referred to the Railways Department, the Stationmaster at Greymouth, advised that the fact that no coal was available at the Ikamatua station had been verified. The question of expediting a supply was being looked into immediately.—Ed.). ’