SPEEDING UP OF TRAINS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8102, 3 May 1912, Page 1

SPEEDING UP OF TRAINS

LOCAL M.P.'S WAIT UPON THE MINISTER. OVERLOOKED BY CITY COUNCIL. A number of important matters, including the question of erecting a new central railway station in Wellington, were discussed with the Minister tor Hallway*, the Hon. A. M. Myers, by a deputation of local members of Parliament yesterday afternoon. The deputation consisted of Messrs A. L. Hordman, P. M. B. Eisber, A. H. Hindmarsh and Dr A. iv. Newman, apology being made on behalf of Mr W. H. D. Bell, who was unavoidably absent on urgent business.

THE ONLY OBSTACLE REMOVED. Mr Herdman said that he had brought under the notice of the former Minister for Railways (Hon. J. A. Millar) the advisability of constructing a new railway station for Wellington, and Mr Miliar informed him tiiat the quesUou would not be considered until the Hntt line had been duplicated and the reclamation work .completed. At the time that seemed a reasonable objection to expediting the construction of a central station. Subsequently he again interviewed Mr Millai, who reiterated his former statement. Now the Hutt line had been completed, and the reclamation work finished, it seemed that the obstacle which existed during Mr Millar’s term of office was removed, and there was nothing as far as the deputation could see to prevent the department going on with the new station. It was hardly necessary to advance any argument as to the need for. the new station. It was admitted that the present two stations were inadequate, and it seemed absurd, to have two stations, ono &t Lambton and one at Therndon, and counting in Te Aro station, three for the railway traffic of Wellington. In the interests, both of tho city and efficient administration of the railway service, these two stations should be done away with, and an up-to-date station erected. The object of the deputation was to know whether it was the intention of the Government to # proceed with the erection of a new station, and if so, the site of the station. MEMBERS OVERLOOKED. Air Fisher supported the remarks made by All - Herdman, and said tho reasons why the local members had come to the Minister was that up to the present they had received no invitation to associate themselves with the deputation the Alin is ter was to receive on the following morning. THE USE OF TE ARO STATION. Dr Newman referred to the agitation for the removal of the Te Aro railway station, but hoped that the Alinistor would not agree to this. The Te Aro station, served a' very largo number of people, and in the course of a few years trade would be largely increased, and he was of opinion that ' goods traffic .hould be taken down there. One reason, that he did not desire to see the Te Aro railway station done away with was that he believed that it would be tho first section of railway which would eventually go through to Miramar. There was a large area of building land on the other side of Alount Victoria, and in years to come there would bo a population of sixty thousand or seventy thousand in that locality. It would be a great inconvenience to these people to come right to the northern end of the city. Dr Newman expressed his willingness to accompany the Alinister oyer the ground, and point out the desirability of extending the railway to Miramar. He further urged the speeding-up of all passenger service trains in the district, and referred particularly to the length of time occupied by the express trains between. Wellington and New Plymouth and Wellington and Napier. The journey to New Plymouth was exceedingly tedious, as was also the "Welling-ton-Napier under tho present time-table. He also urged some better consideration being given to the handling of holiday traffic. > Many holidays were spoilt through late running of trains on tho return journey, and through overcrowd-, ing. It was no uncommon experience to find the carriages in dirty condition. These matters wanted remedying. THE AIINISTER’S REPLY.

The Minister expressed his pleasure at meeting the Parliamentary representatives of Wellington, and said he could not understand the omission to notify them, as members of Parliament, of the public deputation which. was to wait on him in regard to this matter on the following morning. It was probably an oversight. He believed that in such matters of public importance as this it was proper that members of Parliament should accompany deputations to Ministers of the Crown. It was the invariable practice elsewhere. Tho deputation would readily understand that as he was meeting another deputation on the following morning on the same subject he would prefer waiting until ho had an opportunity of hearing their representations before giving a reply as to the action Government would take in the matter of the erection of a new station for Wellington. There was evidently a difference of opinion as to advisability of the retention of the Te Aro station, and he did not feel called upon to express any opinion at the moment in regard to it. COMPLAINTS TO BE LOOKED INTO. In regard to speeding-up the trains, the department had now in hand a programme providing for improving the grades on the various main lines, and this had proved one of the principal difficulties in accelerating the speed of the trains. A policy had been determined on, which he would at the earliest opportunity make public, as to the department’s intentions in this respect. He was in sympathy with the deputation in their request that express trains should be fast trains, and difficulties capable of being overcome would engage his best attention at the earliest moment. The delays and overcrowding in respect to holiday traffic referred to by Dr Newman, as well as the complaints as to the condition of carriages would be inquired into, and in this connection be referred to the intention to appoint two superintendents of traffic —one for the North Island and one for tho South Island. These officers would devote their attention to travelling throughout each island, and it would be part of their duty to report on such matters.

The Minister assured the deputation that during the time he had the honour of presiding over the Railway Department he would endeavour to bring about the utmost efficiency in the department for which he was responsible. He ventured to hope that by pursuing a sound

and progressive policy good results would be achieved.