SUBURBAN TRAINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14808, 11 October 1911, Page 6

SUBURBAN TRAINS.

It is very easy for Mr. Millar to ask deputations to look at the suburban train problem from the point of view of the Department, but it appears quite impossible for Mr. Millar to persuade, his own Department to look at • the matter from ? the point of view of the public. Admittedly the railways of the Dominion ought to pay-—and in the North Island they, pay so handsomely that they enable the Department to make good the huge loss annually: made in the South Island, largely in Mr. Millar's

home province. ; But in the •, matter of the suburban services it is evidently the fault of the Departmental management that they are not a much greater public convenience, and that they, do not return a greater revenue. Every district I knows its own special suburban service grievances, but no unofficial person pi the Dominion ever claims that any suburban service is energetically and actively conducted. ~ It is years, sin<je" motor trains were first suggested,, yet in Auckland only one mote*, train is to be seen, and this is only used for a part of the'railway, day*. And in y Auckland ,1 the Department appears to be positively ignorant-,bf or wilfully ignorant of • the existing conditions, for it blindly runs trajins on sections where they '.■ are ,"not wanted, refuses trains" on sections where they are really. needed,, and generally acts as though suburban services were. much, against i its interests. The * stupid 'arguments advanced against the long necessary duplication of the Parnell Tunnel all depend upon this » antagonism pi* our archaic railway management to passenger traffic. A tunnel which will pass so many trains in 24* Hours does not duplication as long as fewer trains pass through it in 24 hours. Suburban trains, however,, have a habit of being during busy hours and not in the. long hours of the night. ** If Mr. 1 Millar : v would realise that passenger carrying is as much a railway function as -goods carrying, and : that jmy railway official who does not understand this should be superannuated* we should riot only have better suburban services : but should have more trains and better accommodation on long . distance