THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17727, 11 September 1919, Page 4

THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

i Thankful in these days for small mercies, the public will be relieved to know that the Railway Department sees its way to provide, from next week, two express trains a week each way on the main lines of the dominion and also to

make increased provision for the conveyance of goods. It has been without undue complaining that tho restrictions of the past few weeks have b-°n suffered. Whatever may be said with regard to the foresight exhibited by tho officials in control of tho most important transport service in New Zealand, who permitted its supplies of coal to run down to perilously low dimensions, it was generally recognised that, as things wero, a curtailment of the services was imperative. In these circumstances, the public has submitted to inconvenience and discomfort with a philosophic cheerfulness that was creditable alike to its sense of duty and to its sense of humour For thero has been a ludicrous side to tho fact that the department evidently made it its business.to surround travelling on the railways by as many petty annoyances as it could contrive. Tho effect has been to provide an illuminating illustration of the methods that may bo devised, amid conditions of difficulty under the bureaucratic system of control, tho efficiency of which is at the present time being impressed upon the public in another connection. Some of the " P in-pricking» inconveniences to which travellers by train have lately been subjected aro still, unfortunately to be continued, but it may bo hoped now that coal is being imported into the oommion in quantities sufficient to make tho department, if not tho householder, more or less independent of the coal miners of tho country, that tho withdrawal of all tho regulations born of the shortage of fuel may bo looked for at an early date.