LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15384, 22 February 1912, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

TIIK MOSUIUL THAIS SIvRVIC'E. Sill,—Will you kindly grant mo sixioo wherein to express the appreciation of many travellers 011 UlO lino for tlio exuu fii-st-ola&s iicroinniodlitioii now allorik-d on tlio 9.20 S&tunlay niulit train • from Dun•xliii'! Wl no all plcnscd to sco that ollicial uyes have opened to our diixj uccos."ily ill this iv3|K.-tt, and aro uccordiiißly pi'atoful for thii fyidciice of the dtpjvrtmental interest 111 the nell'aro of outlying suburban ]:opul;,tion. Aftei' stwiding iho journey (in morn \rays thaJi one) in. a carliaw li'jml tt'ith pvuvk .-iikl baskets for moro Satmdays than wo care to rcuicmbor, to revel in tho unwonted luxury of a birdwiiiip.ulnion', wero " Paradise enow,' and ahiu.st obliterates i.lie recollcetion of the erratic rwinini; wliicJi clwraeteiises (J'o T.2S train in fioin Mosiriel. This train is Hdoni more than 35 miuulas behind schedule jimcoh arrival in Dunedui, and being, at this season, usuelly ciri\v<lcd with pienio )>:irties, provides btandinj; room only fi.r i'Ci;ulur travellers from intermediate stations. This discomfort, however, is fortunately trasisitorv, and will probably disappear with iho tKoii.ion of excursions, w wo «v:i afford to ovorlock the annoyances of our town war >i proKrass and delight in the joyous anticipation of commcdious ease on our liomewaril journey Now thai tho tk'iwrinvsnl is utiking up to our Saturday needs, may wo venturo to surest that a tra';i at I'O.ZO p.m. or tlifrcjiljo'sts would tin nwch to riJiovo tho ever-increasing congestion on iJio 9.20, and would ewiainly 1» hailed with acclamation by numbers of Ore«i Islaini' and Abbotsford travellers'; Trusting somo abler pen will make l:n<'/wn the noc<Js of three rapidly expanding dislrilts, now ttait tlie llailway J>sp:irtmc:it gives evi<Jeneo of rrcognisin;,' our claims to considerMion —I ain. ctc., MmuiAEET SINCLAIIt. Abbotsford, February IS) RAILWAY FARES. 1 . Sin,—Though tho time aJid manner of their bestowal betray the motive behind the 1 concessions, there can bo iw doubt that the alterations to the railway fares are along ' the right lines. Of late years, however, ! • all requests for what is just and fair have been refused; and (110 lengths to which tho fad of " excess luKgajfo has been car- , lied was absolutely alwurd. If a passenger chose 10 romovn his hat, thoro would soon bo an " ofiiciul" demanding " exccss" on; it; ■ ; Tlio rocont reduction in loiir distance | fares was another case of tho "Spider and j tlio Fly." .How many of us travel over j 200 miles? There is one matter, however, | that Iho l)p|/jrtnient will not (hal with, — j namely, suburban fares. From ICvansdale to Dunedin tho second return faro is 2s! but from Warrington—one mile further on—tho same ticket costs 3s Bd. Now, why should a passenger who happens to live outside the 20-niilc radius bn debarreit from travelling through that radius at suburban fares? TJion ordinary fares would operate outside the boundary, thus making tho faro from Warrington 2s Id. It is furlifor laid down by tho department that these suburban fnrcs shall not apply to stations on branch lines, even though such ! stations arn within tho proscribed area, j Tho Outram branch is a caw in point. I l'assengors from Outram arc chnrpfull : faro— not till they reach the main line at ] Mosgiel, but right through to Dnnodin— I for tho privilege of being served by an in- j convenient arid" slow branch service. There : is no justico in either of these anomalies, ! and I hope tho department will see ,'0 it j that they are removed.—l, ain, etc.. | Fish foh Hoth. 1 Tniori, February 10. I