SUBURBAN TRAINS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11448, 30 January 1918, Page 4

SUBURBAN TRAINS.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, Jan. 29. Mr Homes states that the Cabinet lias given considerition to the question of suburban trains. The recluo tion in the number of men required for each reinforcements, and the dropping of one or more drafts, make impossible for the Defence Department to refrain from calling .up a certain number of men from those railway men tt who have been ballotted for, and who would have gone into camp in a mouth or so. The Cabinet, therefore, have decided that there shall be a limited restoration of the suburban week day evening train services, as far as the number of men released will permit. The Cabinet have also decided that all the oilier train restrictions in force shall stand as at present. Notice will be given shortly of the proposed timetable which may come into operation in bout a fortnight. Any such timetable will be liable to readjustment or termination if the exigencies of the military service or shortage of coal requires the curtailment of the train services'. The t ,Dep.=rtmont released for service over seven thousand men, and at the present moment there is a shortage of 1100 men on the trained staff. Since the cut in May, 3150 men have been, or are due, to be sent into camp, which is more than was expected when the cut was made. The whole of the fit men in the First Division of the railway service will be exhausted, with the exception of twenty or thirty experts, when the drafts due to go into camp in Mart h and April have gone.