RAILWAY PASSENGERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18891, 13 December 1924, Page 10

RAILWAY PASSENGERS.

A further instalment of the "out for business"' policy in the management of the railways is announced to day. It comprises several concessions to passenger traffic, and though none of them is either novel in conception or revolutionary in scope, they arc welcome as evidence that after many years of indifference, the department is at last taking an intelligent interest in passenger traffic, and by paying some attention to the minor details is endeavouring to make railway travelling more comfortable and more attractive- The reduction in excursion fares is so modest that it is probably to be regarded as only a benevolent gesture, rather than as a device to induce people to go upon their holidays by train. There is to bo an improvement, but the proposed tariff is still a long way from the pre-war practice of issuing return tickets at single fares in holiday seasons. The extension of the periods in which tickets are available for the completion of journeys, and the provision for reserving seats a fortnight ahead will be appreciated as a relief from the ridiculously irksome restrictions which theiy displace. Passengers will also welcome the construction of additional sleeping cars, though no

doubt reserving judgment on their value until they have had experience of the new design. The public attitude, however, is not likely to be hypercritical. There will be fresh pleasure for passengers in the knowledge that they are being treated ■with sympathetic consideration, that instead of their being expected to suffer discomfort and inconvenience as patiently as merchandise, their feelings and their wishes are respected. It will not hurt the department to make such overtures for public patronage. Hitherto, it has been handicapped by the impression that the controlling influences were withdrawn into some splendid isolation, inaccessible to the public, as indifferent to compliments as they were deaf to complaints. \\ hat the Railway Department wants is something of the spirit of the little shopkeeper, with his placarded request to customers to express dissatisfaction to him but to spread praise of his goods among their friends. The railway service may still be far from perfect, but its deficiencies will be less irksome when the public feels that the department is striving to do the best it can for its customers.