POLITICAL NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11304, 1 September 1922, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES

PRESS GALLERY NEWS THE MAIN TRUNK RUN. NO SECOND EXPRESS. Mr Clutha Maokenzie wanted to know whether, in view of the heavy increase of traffic on the Main Trunk lino and the consequent uncomfortable overcrowding, it was likely that a second express would soon be put on as a regular thing. He also wanted to know whther the Railway Department would consider giving a trial to a limited express on a 15-hour time-table as was suggested before. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie replied that a very careful tally was being taken daily of the passengers travelling on the Main Trunk trains, and he was sorry to aay that the information given to Mr Mackenzie was not correct. There had been one or two heavv trains lately on special occasions, and the extra traffic had been met by the provision of additional travelling cars and engine-power. Mr Mackenzie might not know that it cost £450 to put on a train from Wellington to Auckland. The records showed that t> put on a second train was not justifiable at the present time. As regarded trying a limited express, that was absolutely out of the question under the present financial conditions. A i limited would be a good thing from the point of view of speed, but the people at stations along the line had to be considered as well as those who desired to see ,the train spe^d-up. BREEDING RABBITS. AND DEPARTMENTAL “INSOLENCE.” Mr A. S. Malcolm told the House about seme farmers in the south who bad set out to dear - their places of rabbits. They took 2400 rabbits off the form in six months/bgt then found that a bit of bash on an adjoining railway reserve was a breeding ground for the pest. They wrote to the Railway Department on the matter, and the department had the insolence to reply that they, could cut the bush down themselves if they liked. The Hon. W- Nosworthv, who is Minister for Agriculture, said he would consult his colleague, the . Minister for Railways, on the point. NATURALISATION 7 FEES. TO 'HR-REDUCED. Mr W. T. Jennings asked if tho advisability of reducing the naturalisation fee on aliens'had been consideredyet. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart said that he had submitted an amended list of fees to Cabinet and, they Tmd been approved. The list reduced tile fees fram t £lO to £2, and in cases of special poverty the Minister was given power to reduce the sum lower still.