TRAIN CONNECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14225, 23 November 1909, Page 4

TRAIN CONNECTIONS.

The new railway time-table, which comes into effect upon December 6, is a distinct improvement upon the existing one, and as many opportunities for further improvement remain, we hope it will initiate a new era of steady and uninterrupted progress. > Among the praiseworthy features is the arrangement made for linking the different parts of the North Island together- as > effectively as is possible in the present backward state of railway, construction.; The East and the West Coasts .are both linked to the North by alterations and quickenings which will - enable travellers from either Napier or New Plymouth to connect with the Wellington-Auckland 'expresses and thus to reach ; ! Auckland within the day. This must encourage travel, in spite of the regrettable increase in long-distance rates .which we cannot but regard as a commercial mistake and as calculated to reduce the business done by the trunk line. However, the Government has apparently determined to ignore the very reasonable claims of long-distance travellers for consideration,, and to make them pay mileage even ; when they are carried many miles out of their way owing to the ; absence of the more direct lines , which ; have been promised; so that the public must submit with the best possible grace until wiser -counsels prevail. While we anticipate that the day express from Auckland to Wellington will justify : itself, it should not be discontinued at the end of the holiday" season without very.grave consideration. ' Services which are in their nature- great public ; conveni- . ences create ; business as the public becomes accustomed to them and cannot be regarded .as uncalled for because business is built up for them somewhat: more slowly than ■ was expected. The huge ; area of locked-up Native Land upon the Main Trunk line is such a handicap to railway business and such a drawback to the Departmental revenues, that Mr. Millar should use all his influence j with his colleagues to expedite the [.abandonment of the " taihoa 1 ' policy, and meanwhile should nurse | the business of this great -: line as

much as possible.