SUNDAY TRAINS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19496, 3 June 1925, Page 5

SUNDAY TRAINS.

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —The Mayor of Port Chalmcra called together the citizens to discuss the railway . imc-table. Among recommendations passed at that meeting, which was held in the Town Hall, was ono asking that tho train which used to leave the Port at 10.15 a.m. on dunday be reinstated. Apparently there are some people in Port Chalmers who wish to dictate to their fellow citizens the course that should be followed by them. These no doubt well-intentioned people, called another meeting in the Salvation Army Hall, a report of which appears in your paper of Friday. The Rev. Mr Grant, who was voted to the chair, said that although this train was used by him when it ran, he did not wish it reinstated. because he did not believe in . Sunday trains, principally because they necessitated certain railway men working. This may he considered a- a reason for cutting out all Sunday trains, but does not appear to be a logical argument against the running of a morning tram in particular. The Rev. Mr Jordan “proved" that tho Sunday morning train was not a necessity, but only a convenience, because people had done without it for several voars. This is quite true, the only necessity for life being food, drink, heat, and uir. It has also been “proved,” therefore, by Mr Jordan’s argument that religion, education and all the luxuries of civilisation are conveniences and not necessities. I am, therefore, content to call this train a convenience. Mr Jordan is also reported as having said that the railwaymen did not wish for Sunday trains, and ho indicated that he had documentary evidence to this effect. The railwaymen have their union through which to ventilate their grievances. The question of their wishes in the matter does not, however, earn* a great deal of weight, because tho conditions of their employment, like those of tramwaymen, seamen, policemen, motormen, etc., require from them a certain amount of Sunday work. Mr Tait said that one day in seven was tho birthright of every man, and any person who made war on the proper use of the Sunday was the greatest enemy that the working men had. Mr Tait knows as well as anyone else that roost men only work five days and a-half in the week, but he says that Sunday should bo the day of rest for all. Thi a is certainly an argument against all Sunday trains, but cannot be considered as ono against the 10.15 a.m. train in particular. Air Miller said that Sunday pleasure trains simply meant that one section nf workers was trying to get pleasure out of another section. "It was bogus democracy. - Society is largely made up of people working for payment, to snpplv other people’s needs and pleasures. In regard to the train which leaves Dunedin for Palmerston during tho summer on Sundays, 1 consider it a great boon to the toilers of tho city—men and women in poor circumstances, who work in factories and in kitchens, and children, whose principal playground is the street, have now been given the opportunity at a, low cost, of spending a day occasionally si the beautiful sea-side resorts which lie within a, few miles of Dunedin, This is a real day of rest for tho adults and a day of toy for the children. Mr Miller may call this “bogus democracy," but I think that it deserves a kinder name, and I for one am grateful to Mr Codes for having put this train on. and given the poor a chance ot innocent pleasure, which in the poet was only wittiin the roach of tho well-to-do. Concerning tho Tort Chalmers time-table I fool sure that due weight will be given to the resolutions passed at the Town Hall, and those massed at the Salvation Army Hall before tho department comes to its final decision,—l am, etc., Libeett. Port Chalmers. May 81.