THE RAILWAY MUDDLE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7019, 6 January 1910, Page 9

THE RAILWAY MUDDLE

(To the Editor *' N.Z. Timea.”) Sir,— Yesterday afternoon’s _ train from the Wairarapa arrived in Wellington over an hour late and a number of passengers for the ferry-boat South had the mortification of seeing the lights of tho departing boat as the tiain was crawling towards Wellington. Tho alteration of tho running of the trains and the reduction of the number on this lino lias put back tho district twenty years ami is injuring commerce, industry and, education to an extraordinary extent. One effect has been to cause such a blockage that nearly all trains arc delayed. ‘The train due at Masterton (Auckland connection) at,9.50 is more frequently in at 10.50, yet with proper management that train might have been left out and others kept in. The Main Trunk express gets to Palmerston North at 12.30, and the train to serve the Napier and Wairarapa lines loaves Palmerston North half an hour before—at 12 noon. If a business man was allowed to run the railway matters would bo very differently arranged. Yesterday tho train arrived at Masterton _ half an hour late and could not possibly take all tho passengers. After some delay a covered truck was put on and passengers squeezed in-rfrom there on to Wellington people had to stand in the gangways and on the platforms of carriages. The lino seems to bo denuded of carriages as well as of trains. One can but notice the treatment of other lines. . In the whole of the South Island system there is. no interference with previous running. From Auckland extra express is run, and the irony is audible almost—from Auckland to Frankton Junction, 85 miles, two express trains run within 35 minutes of each other. Complaints arc made throughout Wairarapa, Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki of the manner in which those districts <aro treated by the Minister, and .onp is forced to tho conclusion that it _is a political punishment for political sins. It is pretty certain that if a general election. took place now the Wairarapa districts would go -solid against the Government. The feeling .is very strong and almost universal, and the Premier is blamed for giving up tlie portfolio of railways to one who is unable to understand the first principles of railway management.—l am, etC " R. BROWN-. Masierton, January 4th.