TROOP TRAINS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17529, 12 July 1917, Page 8

TROOP TRAINS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I am a Christchurch boy, who takes a keen interest in the affairs of his native city, and who is now in Masterton, and there are one or two matters of vital interest which 1 would like to bring under your notice in order to show you some of the wasteful methods adopted by the present Government. We all know too well the dire effects tho curtailment of the evening port trains is having upon the business ot Christchurch and district, as against Wellington, which is uot handicapped at all in a like manner. But it is positively disgraceful to observe how th« authorities are seemingly tumbling ovoi themselves in their anxiety to further boost the interests of that Alecca of the Universe. 1 am referring io troop trains. Featherston Camp is situated fifty miles or so from Wellington, over the great Riinut alias, and only about twenty miles from Alasterton on the fiat, and on week-ends, soldiers’ trains run to both places in order to give our men a welcome chango and respite. Now, sir. as labour and coal are so scarce, would not any reasonably-minded person expect that the men would be, if anything, encouraged to avail themselves of the shorter trip, more especially seeing that Alasterton is such a pretty placo, and devoid of the drink evil? But that is not so. Every possible and impossible objection has been raised. Faithful promises have been mado r score of times only to be instantly broken, and now the formalities are so great and hard to overcome that a considerable number of men give up the quest in disgust and go on to Wellington instead.

I can assure, you, sir, that if the responsible Departments would only grant equal facilities for Masterton week-end leave to those given for Wellington, the saving of labour, coal, etc., seeing that it takes five engines to lift a train up the Rnnutaku incline, would go a long way towards ro-

storing the Lyttelton evening train service, with far greater satisfaction to all concerned.—l am, etc. IT’S TIME WE WOKE UP. Master ton, July 8.