RAILWAY DINING CARS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13268, 27 April 1905, Page 10

RAILWAY DINING CARS.

TO THE EDITOE. Sir,—Travellers by rail must appreciate the improvement in the management since ;ho dopartment assumed control. The moalg are muoh more attractive and varied, and llie attendance is all that can bo desired. Ihere remains one matter, however, which, though small in itself, is unnecessarily irritating, and as it appears to be due only to a superabundance of red tape, it should bo easily For departmental purposes there is a boundary lino at the Waitaki, and it seems that accounts , for each section are scrunulously kept soparate. At anyrate, when the north express has passed Glenavy, and the passengers are comfortably dining, an official enters, and courteously explains that it, is his duty lo collect the price of the meal, as he. has to change trains at Studholmo and return to Dunedin: The same system holds good north of Studholme 011 the. train coming south. I think you will asrrce with me when I say that the. accounts would probably not suffer, and greater courtesy bo shown, if they waited for the money until _wo had finished. . The other way is to imitate the owner of the accommodation house of the ! (rood old days, who intimated' -to thn, crowd , of hungry miners before lie cut a slice that " to save trouble he would collect the halfcrowns now."—l am, etc., Courteous. PORT CHALMERS SAILORS' REST. TO THE EDITOR. Sik.—Of late I have become a visitor to 1 the Port Sailors' Rest, and have noticed that there is often lacking a fire in the place. On inquiry, I have-been informed that there is no funds wherewith to get coals for the place. Now, I'm of opinion it only wants someone authorised to gc round to some o! our well-to-do. people, tradesmen, etc., for subscriptions; and thin state of things would soon be remedied. I would suggest also that such (James as chess, draughts, and dominoes. should bo allowed to amuse our sailor boys during their short stay with us.—l am, etc., Constant Subscmbkb