SUBURBAN SUNDAY TRAINS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3994, 30 September 1930, Page 26

SUBURBAN SUNDAY TRAINS.

SUSPENSION RESENTED.

PORT CHALMERS STILL PROTESTING.

The threatened suspension of the Sunday train service on the Dunedin-Port Chalmers line is resented at Port Chalmers. The Sunday fares were recently increased and the service reduced. That was taken as part of the penalty of trade depression, and although patrons com plained, no concerted action was really contemplated. When, however, it was announced that the Sunday service was to cease altogether, a more aggressive attitude developed. The Port Chalmers Council demanded that the service should be continued. The Minister of Railways (Mr W. A. Veitch) countered by offering to place more buses on the road.

The Mayor of Port Chalmers (Mr W. G. Love) replied as follows:—“Your statement in the House regarding additional buses on the Port Chalmers-Dun-edin line on Sundays is considered to be an evasion of the question. Buses are altogether unsuitable for work on this road. In any case, why incur additional expenditure in buses when existing ser vices suit residents? It seems that the policy of the railways is to drive people on to the road. We are emphatic in our opposition to the proposed Sunday bus service, as such a service can in no way compensate for the far-reaching effects brought about by the elimination of the train service. Will you advise definitely what the position is? Your decision to cancel Sunday trains also cripples the Portobello ferry service, which is run in conjunction with the railway.” The Minister of Railways sent the following reply:—“ Your telegram in regard to Sunday services between Dun edin and Port Chalmers has been received and the representations made have been noted.”

THE MINISTER INTERVIEWED.

REPLY NOT ENCOURAGING.

WELLINGTON, September 26. An endeavour to .secure the re-estab-lishment of Sunday services on the Dun-edin-Port Chalmers line, which with other suburban services, will be cancelled as from next Sunday, was made by Mr W. B. Steel, of the Otago Expansion League, in an interview with the Minister of -Railways (Mr W. A. Veitch) to-day. It was urged that the privileges of 57 years’ standing should not be lightly turned aside. The line" had been a profitable one and the elimination of Sun. day services constituted a breach of faith with the holders of season tickets, who thus would lose 14 per cent, of the value of their tickets. It took the buses longer to cover the journey, and the bus fares were higher. Mr Steel said there was no desire to indulge in destructive criticism of the department’s action, but it was felt chat • minimum of afternoon and evening trainshould be given. The residents of-Porto bello, who had rail-ferry tickets, were .protesting because the suspension of the Sunday train services would interfere with a long-standing arrangement. Mr Steel read a letter from Mr Moss, pro ■orietor of the ferry service, in supuo’t of his statement.

Replying, Mr Veitch mentioned ttiat he had received a telegram of protest from the Mayor of Port Chalmers, and the language used was not the most pol’’« imaginable, but he was prepared to over look that. Mr Veitch said the department was investigating cheaper haulage methods, but its expert advisers coun selled a policy of waiting until the Diesc* electric locomotives were in a more ad vanced stage of development. People would not use the trains, and that was the basis’ of the trouble. The department did not want to inconvenience the people unnecessarily, but it had to reduce the present losses. If it could be shown that economy was being too rigorously practised in the curtailing of ser vices, he was prepared to put the matter right. He could not undertake to reinstitute this service, but the fact that it synchronised with the ferry service with Portobello would be carefully considered. He would also see how far he could go to meet the position of those who held season tickets and other matters relative to the question.