TRAVEL ON TRAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20716, 8 November 1930, Page 12

TRAVEL ON TRAIN.

ACCOMMODATION QUESTION. RIGHTS OF PASSENGERS. Tho right of a second-class passenger to travel in a first-class railway carriage when no second-class accommodation is available is raised by a correspondent, who writes, inter alia:—"Proceeding second-class to Auckland on Saturday and there being no seats available, I sat down in a first-class car. An inspector and a guard came along, and from seven other passengers besides myself in that car alone collected the difference and we had to pay first-class fares. On reaching Auckland and interviewing an official, I was informed that, when no secondclass soats are available, passengers whoso money entitles them to a se.it have no alternative but to travel first-class and pay no extra."

An explanation of the position was given on "inquiry at the office of the divisional superintendent yesterday. It was stated that, in cases where it was necessary to allow second-class passengers to ride in first-class cars, preference was given to ladies. If the ticket inspector had demanded a first-class fare in the cases cited, there was no doubt that second-class accommodation was available. The practice iri cases where second-class passengers were found in first-class cars was to givo such passengers an opportunity to shift before a first-class fare was demanded. The department expressed its willingness to investigate tlio case if the complainant informed it on what trafn he was travel ling.