CHANGE NOT WANTED.

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 25 July 1935, Page 4

CHANGE NOT WANTED.

Viewed from the angles adopted by those whose opinions are quoted to-day, there would appear to be no good case for the change in the time-table of the WahganuiNew Plymouth fast train service. Though no announcement on the subject has been made by the department, one of its officers has been investigating the consequences of a change in the de-parture-time from Hawera of this train from 3.44 p.m., as at present, to 3.4 p.m. The mere suggestion of such a change has been sufficient to alarm various sections of the community, and in the case of the Hawera Technical High School any such proposal is viewed with strong disfavour, ' for reasons which are made obvious enough by the statement made by the principal of the school to-day. The public has not yet heard the case from the other side, but already it has been made plain that a very strong argument on ■ the points of “public interest,” general convenience and revenue returns, will have to be put forward to outweigh the arguments that have been advanced in opposition to the suggestion. At one time any alteration in the timetable of the “flier” that would have resulted in passengers being able to join the Auckland-bound express at Marlon, without the inconvenience of .long delays en route, would have been welcomed in South Taranaki, but the opening of the Stratford Main Trunk has solved any difficulties about communication with the northern city. Taranaki could well do with a night train service to Wellington, but, in view of to-day’s statement by the general manager that the Railway Department will shortly have an announcement to make regarding the running of rail motor ears in particular districts, Taranaki would be better advised to press for the introduction of a night train of this class, than to submit to the disorganisation of a day train timetable which serves a larger public than any that could be possibly benefited by alteration along lines now being contemplated.