"TORTURE CHAMBERS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18553, 10 November 1923, Page 12

"TORTURE CHAMBERS."

NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS.

COMPARISON WITH AUSTRALIA.

Writing from Melbourne after a visit to Adelaide, Mr. Walter Fuller, of Wellington,. refers to railway travelling as follows :—-,.,, . '~''..■■ ~..,.., " I have often heard reproaches heaped upon the New Zealand express trains by various actors and* other travellers, and after sampling Australian railways, I can well understand there !<s plenty of foundation for dissatisfaction. * "I left for Adelaide last Monday, and I was agreeably surprised at the wonderful comfort that is afforded the traveller by the Victorian and South Australian railways. The railway is & very broad gauge, consequently the carriages are most commodious and roomy. There is a splendid dining car attached to the train, and the meals and service are excellent, in fact equal to most first-class hotels. "As to the sleeping compartments, all the cabins are two-berth, and are provided with real bedding, and I found it possible to have a good sleep. Under these conditions one could not help making a comparison with the torture chambers we have to endure when travelling from Wellington to Auckland. The sleeping cabins are provided with a wardrobe for each passenger, locker, and washbasin, and also soap for each person, with nice clean towels, and I was very much pleased to see that each bunk was provided with an electric reading lamp. '.." At one end of the car there is a social smoking saloon provided with luxurious easy chairs so that one hardly desires to go to the sleeping compartment except to sleep. The other end of the carriage is a ladies' boudoir, in which the male passengers are requested not to linger when passing through. This boudoir is abundantly supplied with mirrors and everything, I believe, which will make for the ■ comfort of ladies during ,the journey. The saloon attendants are extremely courteous, and in the morning I was rather surprised to be awakened by •the attt-ndant to know if I would like a a and toast and hot water. ; Before alighting from the car, the attendant takes the precaution of wiping the handrail so that passengers may not soil their hands. "At. 10 o'clock at night I suspected that the train was travelling fast, and on making inquiries I was informed that we were at thpf time doing over 60 miles an hour. Th» journey was a most enjoyable experience. Of course, it being night time, I could not sec much of the Victorian country, but next morning I had an opportunity of seeing South Australia. • There is no doubt South Australia is a most beautiful country, and after the recent' rains that have fallen it looked at its very best. The 483 miles passed all too quickly. , I am very much afraid if many New Zealand people travelled on this line there would be a move for better travelling conditions in New' Zealand." - ' -f-'.* ; '■:% .■:«■. ■