THE LATE TRAIN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17595, 27 September 1917, Page 4

THE LATE TRAIN.

COMMITTEE'S ADVERSE REPORT. REFERRED BACK. j [From Our Correspondent,] WELLINGTON, September 26. Reporting on the petition for reinstatement of tho 9.46 p.m. train from Lyttelton to Christchurch, the Railways Committee to-day stated that as a matter of policy was involved it had no recommendation to make. "This is not a question of policy, it is one of common-sense," declared Mr Witty, who urged the House to delay the report for a week to enable further evidence to be heard. The report had been adopted on the casting vote of the chairman. Two members got inside the room as the question was being put, but they were not allowed to vote. The committee had a right to hear outsiders' replies to the evidence which had been tendered. It cost only £5 to run these trains, yet thousands of tons of cargo were not delivered at Lyttelton owing to the difficulty of getting workers to and from the port. He was surprised at the Minister bringing the General Manager, his assistant, and Mr Myers. ex-Minister of ''Railways, to oppose the petition. It looked as if there was jealousy by Auckland. The suggestion that a big staff was necessary to run this train was sheer nonsense. Why should Auckland come into it? Mr Parr: Auckland doesn't want to. Mr Witty urged that the position of Lyttelton should be judged by what had been d'one. The Minister of Railways: You know I promised to run a train at 9.45 when required. , , Mr Witty: That's not good enough. The train ought to run five nights weekly, then the men would he willing to work. He moved to refer the report back to the committee for further consideration. Dr Thacker supported the motion. The watersiders nad guaranteed to work if the train was produced, and tho chairman of the Efficiency Board had gono to the Minister in support of the proposal. He wanted to see a division' in the House on this retrograde policy- . ~■,,-,, Tho Hon W. H. Hemes replied that he was willing to have the matter reopened. The watersiders wanted the train run every day, but the Department would only run it when required. This was the position, and further consideration would not be served by running an empty train. The petitioners had abandoned their request for a suburban train, and the Department would run tho train when required at an hour's notice. He had asked his colleague. Mr Myers, to attend the committee'because the Government's policy was being assailed. Dr Thacker: That's why we want an election, , . Mr Herries: You have only to sign the petition. Dr Thacker: I have. Mrlsitt assured the Government that the matter was not being pushed for 6heor obstinacy. Permanent injury was being done to Lyttelton, and the Railway Department would make no proposal to get over the difficulty. Mr Buick, chairman of the Railways Committee, objected to Mr Witty's assertions of influence being brought to bear on the committee. The motion was first carried by two votes, but two more members then came in and he weakly allowed them to vote, with the result that the motion was carried on his cast-ing-vote. The House, without division, referred the report back to the committee.