RAILCAR ON TOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22457, 29 June 1936, Page 11

RAILCAR ON TOUR

MINISTER'S JOURNEY

HIGH SPEEDS ACHIEVED

INTENSE PUBLIC INTEREST

[uv telegraph—own correspondent] TAURANGA, Sunday

Enthusiasm was shown at stations between Hawera and Tauranga when tho Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, made a tour in the now railcar. So numerous were the stops made at stations where people had gathered to examine the new vehicle, that the car did not arrive at Tauranga until B.'Jo o'clock to-night, nearly three hours behind schedule. The delay ivas duo wholly to tho length of stops, as tho running of tho car gave every satisfaction. " The railcar is equal to anything of its kind in the world," said the Minister. " Particulars of the same class of car received from Australia, Italy and parts of Germany and America prove that there is nothing better in those countries for tho class of work for which it is intended. Wo are taking tho railcar to all parts of the Dominion for people to see." Radio Set Fitted The car was capable of a speed of 70 miles an hour, and on the trip from Wellington to Tauranga it had several times exceeded 60, the Minister added. It was very comfortable, and fitted with every convenience, including a radio set. The department would first operate tho service on the Well-ington-Masterton line, and then between New Plymouth and Wellington.

The Minister was accompanied by the general manager of railways, Mr. G. H. Mackley, Mr. C. A. Barroll,M.P, for Hamilton, and Mrs. Barrell, travelled from New Plymouth, and Mr. C. H. Burnett, M.P. for Tauranga, and the Hon. B. C. Bobbins, M.L.C., from Te Aroha. The distance of 317 miles from New Plymouth to Tauranga was covered to-day in eight hours 47 minutes running time, stops of from 10 minutes to an hour being made at Stratford, Whatigamomona, Taumarunui, Okahukura, Ongarue, Mangapeehi, Te Kuiti, Te Awamutu, Frankton, Te Aroha, Paeroa, Wailii and Katikati. The running time between New Plymouth and Taumarunui was three hours 40 minutes, compared with five and a-half hours taken by the express. Impression on the Public

Both the Minister and Mr. Mackley spoke at each station, and it was evident that the public was impressed with the comfort, speed, convenience and safety of the new form of rail transport. " Nothing, even in the palmiest days of Richard Seddon or Sir Joseph Ward, compared with the public enthusiasm met with on the journey for this new and attractive unit," said Mr. Sullivan.

The party will leave to-morrow morning for Opotiki, taking the railcar to the railhead at Taneatua, and will travel from there by motor-car to Opotiki and Whakatane, returning to Tauranga at six o'clock in the evening. On Tuesday, Mr. Sullivan will leave for Thames and Rotor.ua. He will return to Hamilton on Wednesday, and is due to reach Auckland at 4.30 p.m. on Thursday, leaving for Wellington by the limited express the same evening *