"KEEP OFF THE TRAINS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16762, 31 January 1918, Page 4

"KEEP OFF THE TRAINS."

The shutting out of passengers from Tuesday night's express was an action characteristic of the New Zealand Railway Department. There were so many through passengers that short-distance travellers were told that they could go on the following day or get themselves entangled in Departmental red tape in an effort to get their money back. It is an amazing attitude, but it is in keeping with much that the Department does. The present policy on the railways appears to be to warn the public to keep off the train!. This has been effectively carried out in the suburban service for eight months. It is now being introduced on the Main Trunk line. The Department is constantly giving us evidence that it has no sense of its duty to the community generally and the travelling public in particular. Neither Ministerial succession nor change in the office of the general manager has been able to counteract this indifference to public requirements. War conditions have been exaggerated into an excuse for denying services that were grudgingly given in peace time and for continually raising new obstacles against the use of the railways for legitimate .travelling. It is idle for Mr. Herries or any other apologist for the Departmental executive to pretend that the railway service is the victim of extraordinary circumstances. Other public Departments have had to contend with equal difficulties, and have found the means of providing efficient service to the public. The Post and Telegraph Office is a notable instance. Every branch of that multifarious Department has had its duties increased, while the Railways Department has been cutting down its work. The Post Office has been one of the most active recruiting agencies, replacing skilled men by women and other novices, and by redoubled efforts on the part of its remaining trained officers,' while the Railway Department has been refusing to release men for reinforcements. In spite of all its difficulties, the Post Office is continuing to give an efficient service, while the Railway Department is warning people off its trains. It is clear enough that the "war policy" of the Railway Department is based on misconceptions. The public is being harassed by high fares, ill-considered curtailment of services, and the inability of the administration to adapt itself to new conditions. While revenue is falling, it is obvious that no contribution to the economy campaign is being made by the Department itself. It has not given the assistance to recruiting which might have justified some of the inconvenience suffered by the public ; it has simply maintained an attitude which is fundamentally wrong, and has created a degree of dissatisfaction which will not be placated by tho provision of a partial evening suburban service.