The Hawera Star. MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1925. NO NIGHT EXPRESS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 5 October 1925, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1925. NO NIGHT EXPRESS.

Delivered every evening by 5 o’clock in Hawera, Manaia, Nonnanby, Okaiawa, JiUhani, Mangatoki, Kapongn, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley, Mokoia, Wbakamira, Ohangai, Mcremere, Fraser Road, and Ararata.

Three months ago, when the proposal was first made, for a night express service between Taranaki and Wellington, The Star remarked that the first consideration from the departmental point of view must be that of revenue. “Would night expresses to and from Wellington be sufficiently well patronised, ’’ we asked, “to warrant the expense of Tunning them? In short, would they pay? We cannot blame the department for asking- itself that question; nor could we blame it for declining to initiate the service if the answer were definitely in the negative.” The figures which the. Minister of Railways quotes in a letter on the question, which we print to-day, are sufficiently forceful to establish his claim that the service would riot pay, and there the matter must be allowed to rest- for the time being. However, those public men who were responsible for advancing- the proposal, as well as the several business communities of Taranaki, are deeply indebted to the Minister and the Railway Board for the careful 'investigation which appears to have, been made. There is a world of difference between a gruff and curt “No! You may not have it,” and a courteous explanation of the circumstances which compe| ( refusal. Mr Coates and tlie heads of his department must have had, from the beginning, more than a. notion that this night service would not pay its way, and they might have dismissed the suggestion as unworthy of attention. But that is not the. spirit of the new Prime Minister any more than it was the spirit of his predecessor; nor are those the methods which are winning for the railway service, the confidence- and respect of the people. The request for the new service has not been granted; but the public knows why, and should have sufficient business insight 1 to agree with the official decision. I