SUBURBAN TRAINS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9632, 12 April 1917, Page 3

SUBURBAN TRAINS

PETONE PROTESTS. AGAIN'ST PROPOSED WAR TIMETABLE. There was a poor attendance at the meeting held Inst evening ;n the Council Chambers, Petone, to protest against the wholesale ■ cutting-down of the train service. The Mayor (Mr J. W. MoElwan) presided, and the meeting, which Consisted of tho chairman, four councillors, an es-Mayor, an ex-Oounolllor, and two citizens resolved itself into a general expression or opinion on the effect of the lessened service on the community. Most of the arguments adduced had already teen placed before the Minister for Railways by a deputation. A letter was read from Mr R. S. Cunliffe, ex-president of the P'etone Working Men’s Club, pointing out the disadvantages labour would be put to If the programme was carried out, suggested that some of the trains in the day be cut out, and a late one at night be substituted to enable workers to return to their homes.

EV£r George London expressed the opinion that, tho stopping of trains would divert tho traffic to another class of labour, and no doubt sufficient vehicles would bo forthcoming on tho roads to deal with it. Mr Piper said that the Minister had made it clear that the object of tho cutting down of the train service was in order to relievo men to go to the front. It such was tlie ease plenty of labour could bo found to take their places. Mr W. Cox thought that railway employees should be made exempt from military service. Mr Brocklebank stated that he was present at the deputation to the Minister, and on that occasion every point possible was brought forward, hut from the Minister’s reply little hope was held out that any alteration could ho made to the programme laid down. After further discussion on similar lines, Mr W. Cox moved: “That this meeting of Potono citizens adds its protest to those already made against the proposed drastic reductions in the suburban train service, and that the Minister for Railways should again consider tho absolute necessity to provide transport facilities for the largo number of Petone and Hutfc residents who use the trains to travel to their daily occupations.” The motion was withdrawn, owing to tho small number of people present.