OXFORD RAILWAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14976, 23 April 1909, Page 8

OXFORD RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The railway system which serves Oxford and districts is run in au extraordinary manner, and I notice in to-day’® “ Lyttelton Times ” an answer received by tho Farmers’ Union (of which I am not a member) from the district traffic manager “thatthere was no intention at present of improving the railway service.” Uiis is absurd, preposterous, aud in tho face of facts a most ridiculous attitude for tho

Department to maintain, one that is most detrimental to these districts and 1 also to the dominion’s revenue. to note, the morning train leaves here at 6.45 and reaches Christchurch at a- 1 quarter to ten—three hours to travel 1 forty-one miles, and the first twenty of this is downhill! All the officials state that they would like shorter hours, hut they can do nothing unless the people of the districts agitate. Under present circumstances hundreds, including, myself, refuse to travel to and from town in the “family bus” except when compelled to do so, hence much revenue is lost. Faster service means lesa expenditure on railway staff and illcreased revenue through i larger numbers travelling.—l am, etc., Oxford, April 20. “MOVE ON.