RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 121, 7 May 1912, Page 3

RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION.

WORKERS' TRAINS AND OTHER

MATTERS

Wellington. Alay 6. To-day the Minister of Railways, the Hon. A. Al. Myers, was waited on by residents cf Porirua. Tawa Mat and Wairarapa with reference to improved services and alterations affecting these districts. In reply, Air. Myers said he desired to give the people every inducement to live in the suburbs, especially in Wellington, where congestion was very noticeable. The request for a workers’ train was most important. The train would leave Paekakariki at 5.50 a.m., arriving at ton at 7.35. On Saturdays it would leave at 4.-15 a.rn., stopping at stations en route, and arriving in AVellington at 7.22. He did not say he conlci give all that was asked for. but lie hoped to be able to grant such increased facilities as would rende> suburban leagues unnecessary. It

was essential that there should be a policy having regard to the business requirements of the country. He was surprised to hear of the time required to send goods from Wellington to Masterton and vice versa, and the department would go into the matter. He could assure them that his policy was progressive and not retrogressive. Other matters which would be attended to would be the removal of the refreshment rooms from Kaitoke to the Summit, the name of Solway to be replaced by Purakau, and train arrangements at show time.

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce to-day set up a committee to report on the improvements desirable in the ATanawatu and Wairarapa railway services, on the suggested deviation of the Afanawatu railway line through Akatarawa Valley, and on the best method of improving the main road highways to Afanawatu and Wairarapa. The Minister has telegraphed tc the member for Napier, Air. J. Vigor Brown, declining to grant the concession of workers’ tickets between Napier and Hastings. The Minister points out in his letter to Air. Brown that the issue of these is confined to the main centres of population to enable the workers in

crowded cities tq remove their homes to suburbs where they could live under improved sanitary conditions, and where the number of passengers to be dealt with would be sufficiently large to warrant the frequent running of trains. The present fares, the Alinister states, are so reasonable as to form no bar to regular travel, and he much regrets that in view of all the circumstances he is unable to authorise the running of workers’ trains between Napier and Hastings at the present juncture.